Luke Puckett, the Republican candidate for Indiana's Second District, says he's happy to be back home in the Hoosier State.

He has just returned from a trip to ANWR in Alaska, where he says he debunked myths about oil drilling.

"The myths are that the Alaskans, the native Alaskans, do not want this," explained Puckett. "The myth that the caribou are hurting. The myth that we should not drill in a pristine environment."

Puckett says native Alaskans welcome drilling, that caribou populations have multiplied since drilling began in the area, and that the environment is barren.

Incumbent Joe Donnelly says he doesn't have to see it to believe his challenger's claims.

"He did not dispel any myths. Those were facts that were already known by most folks, and those facts are something where I support drilling. I support drilling in ANWR. Those are things that are known to everybody," Donnelly clarifies.

Puckett says Donnelly voted four times against the drilling and refining of American oil, and that Hoosiers are feeling the effects of his record, both at the pump and in the workplace.

"These 14-hundred jobs that were lost are a direct result of Joe Donnelly voting against the drilling and refining of American oil," Puckett states.

Donnelly says his competitor is mischaracterizing his votes.

"Our nation hasn't had a strong energy policy going back to the early 1970s. I'm trying to solve that problem in Congress -- that's why I'm a co-sponsor of a bill sponsoring drilling and exploration in America," says Donnelly.

While they disagree on what Donnelly's record means, both men agree drilling in ANWR might bring some much needed relief to Hoosiers.

"If our Congress would have the backbone to announce to the world that we’re going to deregulate, drill, and refine American oil, foreign oil companies would drop their prices so fast, we would be amazed," Puckett believes.

Donnelly is currently co-sponsoring the American Made Energy Bill.

It would repeal the ban against producing oil and gas from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The bill is in the first step of the legislative process.