INDIANAPOLIS | The governor's endorsement and a perceived geographic edge weren't enough Monday for Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas, who was soundly defeated by Greg Zoeller in the Republican race for state attorney general.

Zoeller, the chief deputy to outgoing Attorney General Steve Carter, captured 1,061 delegate votes at the Republican State Convention to 707 for Costas, who still has three years remaining on the second mayoral term he won last year.

"That's an excellent consolation," Costas said. "I'm looking forward to getting refocused back on city matters."

Carter announced he would not seek a third term in late March, setting off a sprint between Costas and Zoeller, a New Albany native who joined Carter's political team after losing the 1996 nomination for attorney general.

Costas and Porter County Republican Chairman Chuck Williams said Zoeller's long-standing relationships with state GOP delegates and his hard work campaigning paid off in the truncated contest. Williams said he was exasperated to learn that 51 of 81 delegate votes from Lake County went against Costas.

"I don't think you ever have to worry about a statewide candidate being elected from Northwest Indiana because we (region Republicans) can't even get together behind one," Williams said.

Gov. Mitch Daniels and nearly every Republican statewide officeholder but Carter backed Costas in an attempt to add a northern Indiana vote-getter to a fall GOP ticket that includes southern Indiana candidates for lieutenant governor and state schools superintendent.

"I"m thankful for the governor's support, but the delegates are very thoughtful people. And they're independent thinkers, and that's the way it should be," Costas said. "As really a complete unknown statewide, I never would have had the opportunity (to run) had the governor not supported me."

Daniels said he took a side in the race as a continuation of his attempts to end Northwest Indiana's perceived isolation from the rest of the state. He said he fears if his party doesn't fare well in the region this November, "Republicans probably will write it off for good, and Democrats will take it for granted, as they always have."

Carter said Zoeller fared well among Lake County delegates because "people want public corruption pursued. He's committed to doing that."

Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita, a Munster native, said he endorsed Costas out of disappointment with the legal assistance his office has received from Carter's office.

"I'm hopeful that Mr. Zoeller will take that to heart and make sure that we get the attorneys and the kind of service that we need," he said.

The candidates parted on less acrimonious terms Monday. Costas exited the convention center as Zoeller's win was being announced but not before delivering some good news.

"Jon came up and told me the vote totals, so that was the first person I heard (that I won) from," Zoeller said. "He's proven himself the fine gentlemen that everyone told me he was."