Ind. Treasurer to Challenge Lugar in 2012 Primary

Indiana state Treasurer Richard Mourdock will challenge longtime U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar in next year's Republican primary.

Mourdock announced his Senate bid during a Tuesday news conference in downtown Indianapolis with about 200 supporters.

He told the gathering he appreciates Lugar's decades of service to Indiana but said the six-term Republican has lost touch with the state's needs. Mourdock says he has the support of 67 of Indiana's 92 county Republican chairmen for his Senate run.

Mourdock has courted tea party groups that have been disgruntled with Lugar and say he hasn't been conservative enough.

He told the gathering that Lugar doesn't respect the tea party movement.

Mourdock is from the Evansville area and has been state treasurer since 2007.