Donnelly seeks Democratic bid to challenge Chocola in 2004

SOUTH BEND -- A Mishawaka businessman announced Monday he plans to seek the Democratic nomination to run against Republican U.S. Rep. Chris Chocola next year.\nJoseph S. Donnelly, an attorney with a South Bend law firm who owns a printing-related business in Mishawaka, said he would focus his candidacy on job losses in northern Indiana.\n"We have significant job concerns in the 2nd District, where we've lost thousands and thousands of manufacturing jobs. So it's a really critical time," he said.\nDonnelly, 48, an unsuccessful candidate for state Senate in 1990, has bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Notre Dame.\nSt. Joseph County Democratic Chairman Owen "Butch" Morgan, who is also the 2nd District chairman, said Donnelly won the backing last week of an informal caucus of local labor and political leaders.\nThe others who had been seeking the Democratic nomination -- Bill Carnegie, director of the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, and Mishawaka businessman Steve Ross -- have agreed to support the caucus' choice of Donnelly, Morgan said.\nChocola, a first-term congressman, is the only announced Republican candidate. He spent $1.7 million last year to defeat Democrat Jill Long Thompson, who spent $1.5 million.\nDonnelly said he did not expect to raise as much money as Chocola.\nPresident Bush made two trips to South Bend last year to help Chocola raise money. Donnelly said if Bush visits again, he would like him to meet with steelworkers.\n"I'd like to see Chris bring him over to Porter and Michigan City and explain to the steelworkers why he made the decision to remove the steel tariffs," he said. "I think as well as meeting with all the rich people, he could go up and meet with the steelworkers"