Washington Republicans help Mourdock

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Richard Mourdock got some Washington help Monday in his bid to win a U.S. Senate seat. Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn came to Indianapolis in the effort to give Richard Mourdock a boost.

They appeared at doctor-owned OrthoIndy Hospital to voice opposition to President Obama’s health care reform and to make it clear what's at stake for Republicans in this election.

"This seat — in terms of us achieving a majority in the Senate — is critical," said Coburn.

But it's another big name Republican who is hurting Mourdock at the moment. Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan is featured in a new ad from the campaign of Democrat Joe Donnelly in an excerpt from a PBS interview.

"Mr. Mourdock's point is that any movement that happens should not come from Republicans," says Judy Woodruff in the excerpt, "it should only come from the Democrats." Ryan responds saying, "Yeah, see, I don't agree with that."

And that means it's up to people like Sen. Coburn to convince voters that Mourdock's views will change if he gets to Capitol Hill.

"I believe in compromise." said Coburn, "and I believe Richard will compromise in the best interest of our country which ultimately will be in the best interest of Indiana."

Mourdock, in the meantime, was asked to name a Democrat he could compromise with. He said he is only familiar with the Democratic leadership.

"And I have to tell ya," he said, "I don't see many ideas coming from their leadership that are the types of ideas we need."

The remaking of Richard Mourdock, it appears, is a work in progress.