SOUTH BEND — U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly sailed to an easy victory Tuesday night over Republican challenger Luke Puckett.

And Puckett, whose campaign suffered through fund-raising difficulties and the loss of two key staffers, said he’ll get to Washington, even if he has to wait to 2010.

"I have not come this far to stop now," he said. "I will be the next congressman of District 2. We’ll continue to fight hard."

With 86 percent of precincts reporting in the 2nd Congressional District, Donnelly had 67 percent of the vote. Puckett earned 30 percent and Libertarian Mark Vogel had 3 percent of the vote.

Puckett congratulated Donnelly on a good campaign and called for a round of applause for Donnelly.

He said that although he was conceding the election, he "will not concede the people of District 2."

"I will not concede the fact that the people of District 2 must, in every way, see government get smaller," he said.

Across town at the West Side Democratic & Civic Club, Donnelly urged an enthusiastic crowd to applaud Puckett and said the election results are humbling.

"We don’t worry about red. We don’t worry about blue. We don’t worry about partisan politics," Donnelly said. "We worry about what’s best for the country and that’s what we’ll do for the next two years."

Staff writer Margaret Fosmoe contributed to this report.