The Associated Press first reported in May about Jennifer Messer's contract with the city of Fishers, which pays her $240,000 a year to work as a part-time contract attorney, a sum that is vastly more than either of the city's two staff attorneys are paid — or many other government lawyers in the state. Messer has already lined support from many of the state's most influential Republicans, including the vice president's brother Greg Pence, who is serving as campaign finance chairman. Responding to the announcement, Donnelly campaign manager Peter Hanscom played up the Democrat's record of bipartisanship and said "there's still only one person on next year's Senate ballot who is deeply connected to the Hoosier electorate and has a proven track record of working across party lines to deliver for Hoosiers, and it's Joe Donnelly."