Indiana State University administrator Greg Goode (R) is expected to announce his candidacy in the 8th district Wednesday, where he will be taking on freshman Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D).

Republicans have been looking for a top-tier challenger for Ellsworth and are excited about the prospect of Goode running.

“Greg Goode would make an excellent candidate,” said Ken Spain, a National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman. “Clearly Brad Ellsworth thinks so, too, since he launched a malicious preemptive attack against Mr. Goode several weeks back when he first expressed interest in running.”

Spain was referring to an e-mail distributed last month by the Indiana Democratic Party.

In it, Ellsworth criticized Goode for meeting with Karl Rove, President Bush’s top political strategist, and other Republican leaders.

“Not even in the race yet and Greg Goode is already displaying all the lock-step characteristics that we spent two years fighting against in the 2006 election,” Ellsworth wrote.

Goode will be announcing his decision twice, first in Evansville and then again in Terre Haute.

Goode previously served then-Rep. Brian Kerns (R-Ind.) as his chief of staff.

— Nicole Duran