Indiana GOP names Lugar supporters to RNC

U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar may have lost his primary last month, but two of his biggest supporters were chosen Friday to replace a pair of his opponent's backers on the Republican National Committee.

Indiana Republican Party leaders voted to place outgoing Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and veteran Republican fundraiser John Hammond on the national board. The pair will replace Terre Haute lawyer Jim Bopp and Fox News commentator Dee Dee Benkie, who both supported Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock over Lugar.

Party chairman Eric Holcomb called Skillman an "invaluable partner" and said Hammond's appointment to the national committee was the "natural next step."

Indiana Republicans are preparing for a changing of the guard at their annual state convention this weekend.

Gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence and Mourdock are taking over as the new standard-bearers for the party that has been led by Lugar and Gov. Mitch Daniels over the last eight years. Daniels is term-limited and cannot seek re-election in November.

Republicans spent Friday night in Indianapolis picking delegates to the RNC, and they expect to hear from party leaders including Daniels and Mourdock on Saturday.

Pence also is scheduled to speak and is expected to discuss his plan for how he would govern Indiana if elected governor in November.

Pence has been largely quiet on policy proposals thus far in the campaign. But he has said he would like to see the state's corporate and personal income taxes cut along with the sales tax. He has also suggested creating a "jobs cabinet" that would report to the governor on economic development issues.