Top individual donors explain why they give to Hoosier lawmakers

Bill Peirson admits what he has to say about his donations is corny.

"The world will be a great place because Evan Bayh is in it," the Dallas man said. "Possibly Indiana will have been a better state."

Peirson is among the countless people across the country who have contributed millions of dollars in campaign funds to three of Indiana's federal lawmakers.

In the past year and half, Peirson and his kin -- his wife and two sons -- were among the top individual donors to Bayh's campaign, giving $22,000. Peirson said he met the Democratic senator a few years ago and began backing Bayh's presidential bid.

Peirson, who owns a 25-year-old law and mortgage firm, praised Bayh's ability to be productive with both parties.

Donald Kendall, the 88-year-old former CEO of PepsiCo, called Bayh's counterpart, U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., "one of the best senators we have."

Kendall -- among the top 10 individual donors to Lugar -- said he gave the Republican $2,800 this year and last because he supports the Senate lion's longtime work with Russia, China and India.

"International relations is critical," said Kendall, who lives in Greenwich, Conn. "We have to have people who understand it. Lugar is as good as it gets on that."

David Bradley, executive director of the National Community Action Foundation, said his group supports Northwest Indiana's U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky because he backs the indigent.

"Simply, here's a guy, with his colleagues, (who) stopped and fought for low-income people," Bradley said of the Merrillville Democrat.

Bradley's group was the third-highest source of campaign funds to Visclosky in 2008 and 2009. The group donated $10,500, he said, because "Visclosky was there on behalf of ... energy for poor people. That doesn't happen all the time."