Donnelly says he can beat Lugar

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Joe Donnelly, the Indiana Democrat running for U.S. Senate, is making a statewide tour to promote his jobs plan.

Donnelly was at a local laboratory known as Xylogenics Monday morning to push for a continuation of a research and development tax credit. He said it will help companies like Xylogenics develop new fuel technologies that will make American energy independent.

Donnelly will take on the winner of the GOP primary battle between Richard Mourdock and Sen. Richard Lugar and said he doesn't care who wins it.

"I think we can win either way," Donnelly said. "If you look at the poll numbers for Sen. Lugar against myself he's at 42 percent, which, as an incumbent - a pollster once told me, he said, ‘Joe, if you were at 42 percent a few months out, or you know five, six months out, we'd probably tell you to think of other career options.’"

Donnelly, a congressman from South Bend, also plans to campaign in Fort Wayne, Terre Haute, and Evansville this week.