We finally have some idea how much Republicans running for Congress in the open seat in the 9th congressional district have raised.

Mike Sodrel in a screenshot from his new TV ad. His slogan is ‘Life experience counts.’

Just looking at three of the top-tier candidates, Mike Sodrel, who represented the district in Congress for one term, from 2005-2007, has raised the most — $467,370.

Former state Senator Erin Houchin of Seymour has the most cash on hand — $250,476. She raised $377,205, the second-highest amount after Sodrel.

Stu Barnes-Israel was the third-biggest fundraiser, bringing in $366,325, and has the second-highest amount of cash on hand — $231,938.

NOT that money matters the most.

It doesn’t.

In July of 2016, Donald Trump had just $1 million in the bank. He’d self-funded his primary, and famously relied on free media (got a lot of free air time by speaking frankly about hot topics.)

But in this race, although we have some good candidates, we don’t have any that light the crowds aflame when they speak, that startle and transfix and arouse people who haven’t paid attention to politics in years. Not that I’ve seen.

So money probably will matter to a degree. TV ads cost money. And to reach voters in the district, candidates have to run TV ads in Indianapolis, Louisville and Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, it seems that Stu Barnes-Israel might possibly not really live in the district, but in a handsome four-bedroom home on N. New Jersey Street in Indianapolis that Zillow says is worth more than $850,000.

Barnes-Israel, a combat veteran who fought in Afghanistan, is now a high-paid consultant with McKinsey & Co.

He insisted to the Indianapolis Star that Greensburg is his home.

We’ll see what voters think.

Crossroads Report

Money race for 9th CD! New FEC numbers show…