The Indianapolis Star goes on to note that national Republican money is pouring in as well:

In addition, the national party recently spent nearly $500,000 in ads attacking Sodrel's Democratic challenger, former U.S. Rep. Baron Hill, Seymour.

There are contrasting opinions on whether Bush will benefit Sodrel in the Indiana 9th:

Michael B. O'Connor, a former Indianapolis deputy mayor who is a campaign adviser to Hill, said that while a presidential visit can rally support for a candidate, it also can reinforce the views of those who don't support Bush.

"It reminds those people who believe it's time for a change what it is they want a change from," O'Connor said.

Sodrel, a New Albany Republican, said he's not afraid to tell Bush when he disagrees with him, as he did on immigration. Sodrel favors tightening the border to keep out illegal immigrants, while Bush wants also to set up a guest-worker program and a path to citizenship for some of the illegal immigrants already in the country.

In the Indiana 8th District Republican incumbent John Hostetler has a far different approach to dealing with President Bush:

"I haven't invited him," Hostettler said of Bush. "I haven't invited George Bush for six years to come to the district."

Hostettler has typically shown independence from his party, usually when he thinks a GOP position is not conservative enough. He was one of only 11 House members who voted against a $51.8 billion Hurricane Katrina aid package, complaining that Congress was approving more than the combined annual budgets of the three affected states.

His independence aside, Hostettler has relied on the national party in past elections because he does not raise as much campaign money as most incumbents.

The national party had spent about $1.7 million in the 8th District by mid-October, compared with the $224,290 Hostettler had spent.

Hostettler said he has heard that the GOP is buying more ads after its latest polling in the 8th, and he discounts media reports that party leaders have decided he's too far behind to be helped.

A local professor believes the visit may intend to help GOTV in the southern Indiana districts:

Robert Dion, professor of American politics at the University of Evansville, said that with the contest between Hill and Sodrel so close, a presidential visit may be all about rallying supporters to get out the vote.

"Who knows? Maybe a Bush visit there can provide the added push at the last minute to hold on to this seat," Dion said.

The Republicans have been running advertisements on TV and Radio which attack in boileplate fashion Hill as too liberal because he  doesn't protect the flag, will raise taxes, and won't protect marriage. Hill, a conservative Democrat has actually responded with an ad that stresses he would vote against flag desecration and gay marriage. Hill attacks Sodrel as "Millionaire Mike" and points to shady business dealings. Hill has also tied Sodrel to disgraced Representative Foley in another ad. Perhaps the most stinging attack takes Sodrel to task for his many anti-soldier and anti-veteran votes.

Polling indicates the 9th District is a tossup. Whether President Bush can alter that balance of forces with his visit is questionable but I believe the publicity they will get from the local media will be mostly favorable. The President will give them an excuse to run feel good stories and smiling pictures of Sodrel and the other Republicans. When Cheney visited troops this past week for instance, the papers were covered with photos of a smiling Dick Cheney backed by soldiers in fatigues who were clapping and smiling themselves. That sort of coverage will be repeated when President Bush and Laura Bush vist the state and will provide alot of opportunities for them to hammer home Republican themes.

Update [2006-10-25 14:5:59 by Curt Matlock]: The perfect ad for the Democrats to run during Bush's visit is the newly DNC "Stay the Course" video. It's makes devastating use of Bush urging Americans to "Stay the Course" before later telling them to do just the opposite.: