Little hope for reduced primary field vs. Burton

We’ve said before that the crowded primary field running against Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) will probably save him in 2010.

At least one of the four challengers, Brose McVey, is trying to do something about it:

And so McVey, a former congressional candidate, Tuesday called on the other three — state Representative Mike Murphy, former State Representative Luke Messer and 2008 Burton challenger John McGoff — to join him in an agreement that would see all but the strongest candidate leave the race by February 1, three months prior to the May primary.

“It’s very certain we’ll have a well-funded, quality candidate whether it’s me or someone else,” said McVey.

Unfortunately for McVey, his opponents – including McGoff, who held Burton to 52 percent of the vote last year – don’t seem to be on board:

John McGoff rejected the idea, saying that the voters should decide — so did Mike Murphy.

“I mean, I would certainly be happy to go to the forums but I will not take part in any backroom politics. I think that’s what people are tired of is politics as usual,” said McGoff.

Luke Messer didn’t even offer a response. He declined comment through a spokesperson.

We’ve all seen how well these agreements have worked out before, so maybe it’s better that they don’t even try.