GOP Rep. Messer takes step toward possible Senate race

Republican U.S. Rep. Luke Messer has taken a step toward a possible 2018 bid for one of Indiana's U.S. Senate seats by forming what his campaign calls a statewide finance committee.

Messer is in his third term representing central Indiana's 6th District and is a potential challenger to Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly.

Messer's finance committee is being led by Columbus businessman Greg Pence, who is the brother of Vice President Mike Pence. Other committee members include former state GOP chairmen Murray Clark, Jim Kittle and Al Hubbard and top Mike Pence campaign official Marty Obst.

U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita also might seek the Republican Senate nomination. Rokita is a former Indiana secretary of state who unsuccessfully sought to replace Pence as the GOP gubernatorial candidate last summer.