Dan Coats can't avoid Wahington label

(And Why Should He?)

GOP candidates selling perceived strengths

• By: Jim Shella

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Five Republicans are running for the U.S. Senate in Indiana because they believe voters want a change.

Dan Coats and Marvin Stutsmann may be the leading candidates in the race for the GOP nomination. Stutsmann is selling a fresh approach. Coats is selling experience.

Coats, a former senator and former ambassador to Germany, campaigned with former White House drug czar Bill Bennett, who tried to dispel questions about Coats being a conservative.

"Dan was conservative before it was cool to be conservative," Bennett told reporters. "In fact, before some of the people asking those questions were born."

It's the sort of thing that causes state Senator Marvin Stutsmann to label Coats a Washington candidate.

"You know, we're not Washington DC, but we're not inexperienced either," said Stutsmann.

He says voters don't want someone who's been there before.

"I think they're looking forward," he said. "I think they're looking to the future and who can lead best and who has the fire in the belly and the willingness to go out and work hard every day."

And so Bennett and Coats play up the need to understand Washington in order to take on the Obama administration and policies they deem liberal.

"We need judgment and experience," says Bennett.

"Well, they can label me whatever they want," said Coats. "But I proudly served this country and this state as a Hoosier and this country as a Hoosier for a number of years and that job is in Washington and I lived in Washington."

It's an admission that there's no getting away from the Washington label. But being a Washington candidate has advantages, too. For Coats, it means better name ID and a fundraising advantage.

That's the main reason why Bill Bennett attended a Coats fundraiser in Carmel last night.

Dan Coats, the anti-Obama

by Chris Cillizza

Washington Post

Former Indiana Sen. Dan Coats said he is running for Senate because of President Obama. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Image

Ask Dan Coats why he decided to come out of political retirement to seek the Indiana Senate seat he vacated in 1998 and he offers just two words: "Barack Obama".

"What I saw him doing went against everything I have ever believed, everything I have ever stood for," Coats said in an interview with the Fix earlier this week. "I saw this country in a tailspin under this agenda."

That Coats, a Republican who held a seat in the Senate from 1989 to 1998, would so explicitly run against Obama speaks to the drastic shift in the political winds since the President carried the Hoosier State in 2008. (Obama was the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Indiana since Lyndon B. Johnson.)

"He carried [the state] based on this hope and change promise," said Coats. "He carried [it] not on the basis of what he has done the past year."

Coats' surprise entrance in the race -- he decided to run in early February -- against Sen. Evan Bayh (D) was cast by national Republicans as evidence that the favorable national political environment was putting races in play that no one thought might be competitive.

Little did we know that Bayh would stun the political world by retiring less than two weeks after Coats entered the contest, drastically increasing Democrats' vulnerability in the race and raising at least the specter of a Republican Senate takeover.

Coats seemed to be sitting pretty after the Bayh retirement but was taken badly off course by a coordinated -- and devastatingly effective -- campaign by national Democrats to draw attention to his past as a lobbyist and some of his less-than-politic pronouncements, most notably a video that surfaced in which he told a group of North Carolinians that he planned to retire to the Tarheel State.

Coats acknowledged that he got off to a less-than-ideal start, largely due to the fact that he never thought he would be running again for public office. "I wouldn't have said that" if he had been planning a return bid, Coats said of his North Carolina comment. "But I did."

Coats insisted, however, that the charges of nefariousness in his lobbying work (and clients) was entirely off base and boomeranged against the Democrats who made them. "I don't apologize for that," Coats said of his lobbying work. "What they have thrown at me is factually wrong."

Assuming Coats is the Republican nominee -- and he faces a primary fight on May with, among others, former Rep. John Hostettler -- he will work to frame the general election between himself and Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D) in the national political context while Ellsworth will almost certainly try to make the race more local.

That push-pull is present in a number of contested Senate races -- including in places like Colorado, Arkansas and Nevada among others -- where Democratic incumbents are trying to run narrow-bore races focused on themselves and not the national party and their Republican opponents are hoping to turn the contests into a referendum on Democrats in Washington broadly.

"People are distraught over what has happened in Washington," said Coats of the mood in his home state -- adding that he never before seen close to the amount of "anger, fear and engagement" in the electorate at large. "People feel like they were sold a bill of goods," he said.

How much -- and how quickly has the political face of Indiana changed since 2008? Coats is placing a big bet that the change is drastic and that running explicitly against Obama will pay electoral dividends. Democrats have to hope he is wrong.

By Chris Cillizza | March 25, 2010; 1:03 PM ET

Dan Coats Interview With Cal Thomas

Dan Coats for Indiana
http://dancoatsforindiana.blogspot.com

Ex-senator wants to reenter the ring

BY CAL THOMAS

tmseditors@tribune.com

Given the toxic nature of Washington -- and especially after the crushing defeat of Republicans by the congressional Democrat majority -- why would anyone want to be part of this, especially one who has been there before?

It is the first question I put to Dan Coats, a Republican from Indiana, who is running for his old Senate seat. Coats served four terms in the House and almost two in the Senate (he took Dan Quayle's seat in 1989 when Quayle became vice president) before voluntarily retiring to a comfortable private life.

``I deliberately avoided stopping at a psychiatrist's office on the way to making this decision,'' he tells me over breakfast at an Arlington, Va., diner. Coats, who must first defeat four opponents in the Republican primary on May 4, says he is motivated to run after ``watching for a year with increasing frustration and anger what is happening to our country and saying, `Do I want to go quietly into the night and enjoy the fruits of my labors or do I want to throw myself back in and see if I can do something about it?' ''

Coats thinks America is ``sliding into mediocrity,'' and we are losing the values that inspired ``The Greatest Generation.'' He describes the familiar conservative litany: ``Limited government, lower taxes, a balanced budget, strong defense.''

I asked him if that were practical, and he answered No, though he thinks reasserting those principles is necessary if America is to survive as a free and strong nation.

What does he think recommends him to Indiana voters, and what would he do differently this time, if elected?

``I think the greatest thing going for me is age and experience, because at a certain point in life you stop thinking about your career and start thinking about what can you leave for the next generation and my country. It's not about positioning yourself with a vote. It's about going (to Washington) and doing what you know is the right thing to do.''

Didn't Coats and his fellow Republicans have the opportunity to do the right thing when they were in power in the recent past, but in the minds of many conservatives, blew it? He acknowledges as much and believes that conservative Republicans have learned their lesson.

What does that mean? Would he, for example, work to repeal the healthcare law?

``Absolutely. I would do everything I could to turn around this liberal-socialist agenda that Pelosi and Reid are imposing on the American people. If nominated and elected, I will have the backing of the people of Indiana to go to Washington and turn things around structurally and reform entitlement programs. The only way we're going to get at our deficit is to reform entitlement programs. They will all go bankrupt if we don't do something to put them on a better fiscal standing.''

Coats thinks the choices faced by the country are stark and menacing: ``We can either watch our country slide into mediocrity and a socialist European-style nation that cheers when they get 1 percent GDP growth, or we can put our country back to the principles that made us different from every other country in the world.''

Coats wants to counter the stories told by liberal Democrats of gloom and despair with uplifting stories of people who have overcome challenges that he thinks will inspire others. In an age when feeling good is preferred to thinking right, that's a tall order, but there's no reason not to take him at his word. Why else would someone who has been there and done that do it again, unless he's of unsound mind?

Maybe it's better to avoid that visit to the psychiatrist for now.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/25/1546040/ex-senator-wants-to-reenter-the.html#ixzz0jC9O2ffQ

Dan Coats - Latest Rasmussen Poll

Dan Coats with Chris Dickson

Dan Coats for Indiana
http://dancoatsforindiana.blogspot.com

Two of the three top Republican hopefuls for the U.S. Senate in Indiana continue to hold double-digit leads over Democratic Congressman Brad Ellsworth. Ellsworth supported President Obama’s health care plan in a state where opposition to the legislation is higher than it is nationally.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in the state finds former Congressman John Hostettler with a 50% to 32% lead over Ellsworth, a current House member who voted with most other Democrats on Sunday to pass the health care plan. The survey was taken last Wednesday and Thursday nights. Fifteen percent (15%) remain undecided in that match-up.

Ex-Senator Dan Coats now posts a 49% to 34% lead over Ellsworth, with 12% undecided.

Ellsworth runs best against the third GOP contender, freshman State Senator Marvin Stutsman. In that match-up, Stutsman leads by just seven points, 41% to 34%. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided.

Fifteen percent (15%) of Indiana voters have a very favorable opinion of Ellsworth, while 14% view him very unfavorably.

Hostettler is viewed very favorably by 13% and very unfavorably by 10%.

For Coats, who served as a senator from Indiana from 1989 to 1999, very favorables are 15% and very unfavorables 11%.

Six percent (6%) have a very favorable view of Stutzman, while eight percent (8%) regard him very unfavorably.

At this point in a campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with a strong opinion more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers.

Debate Commission Locks In Indiana Senate Contenders

The five Republican U.S. Senate candidates will go head-to-head on live TV in Indianapolis on April 20 in a debate sponsored by the Indiana Debate Commission.

The public is invited to submit, and potentially ask, questions of the candidates.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GOP SENATE DEBATE

Indiana residents who would like to ask questions of the Republican U.S. Senate candidates in the April 20 debate may submit them online at www.indianadebatecommission.com by going to the form at the bottom of the page.

Questions also may be submitted in writing by sending them by mail to Indiana Debate Commission, 3909 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46208.

A committee of the debate commission will screen all submitted questions and interview potential questioners.

The commission's 13 affiliate groups will be asked to send representatives to ask questions of candidates in a post-debate news conference.

Some area high schools also will be invited to participate in the news conference and watch the debate in a separate screening room at Indianapolis public television station WFYI.

The debate commission's announcement that all five candidates have agreed to participate was accompanied by the news that Indianapolis public television station WFYI will host the one-hour debate at 7 p.m. CDT.

WFYI will make the debate available to any broadcast outlet. An audio feed will be available to radio stations, and the Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System will webstream the debate.

Candidates in the GOP's May 4 Senate primary are former Rep. John Hostettler, R-Ind., former Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., state Sen. Marlin Stutzman of Howe, Fishers businessman Richard Behney and Richmond financial adviser Don Bates Jr.

The Senate seat is being vacated by Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind. Democrats expect to nominate Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., for the seat.

A third opinion poll now shows Hostettler performing better against presumptive Democratic nominee Ellsworth than the other GOP Senate candidates.

A new telephone survey of 500 likely voters conducted by Rasmussen Reports on March 17 and 18 shows Hostettler defeating Ellsworth by a 50 percent to 32 percent margin, with the remainder of voters not sure or supporting other candidates.

Coats defeats Ellsworth by 49 percent to 34 percent, while Stutzman defeats him by 41 percent to 34 percent.

The survey was conducted with a 3.5 percent margin of error.

by Thomas B. Langhorne

A Research 2000 poll conducted late last month for the liberal blog DailyKos.com found Hostettler had the best chance of beating Ellsworth.

The poll, conducted with a 4 percent margin of error, showed Hostettler winning 40 percent of the vote to Ellsworth's 34 percent. Meanwhile, Coats was ahead by a 37 percent to 36 percent margin, a statistical dead heat.

A Rasmussen Reports poll in mid-February showed Hostettler defeating Ellsworth 46 percent to 27 percent , and Coats knocking off the Democrat, 46 percent to 32 percent.

The Indiana Debate Commission is a nonpartisan, statewide group of 13 affiliate organizations promoting debates at the state level.

In 2008, the commission sponsored televised gubernatorial debates at venues in Merrillville, Jasper and Bloomington. The commission reports more than 400 Indiana residents submitted questions to be considered by the candidates.

MENDING FENCES: RENEWING JUSTICE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY

by Daniel R. Coats

(Kuyper Lecture Series) (Paperback)

Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Dan Coats and Bill Bennett: "Project for American Renewal"

In 1995, Senator Dan Coats introduced a package of legislative proposals to help empower local, community-based institutions that were addressing social problems. Crafted with the help of Bill Bennett, a co-director of Empower America, the "Project for American Renewal," comprised 19 separate bills designed to use public policy - and public resources - to energize mainly private efforts to meet human needs. They included:

• The Mentor Schools Act, to provide grants of $1 million to school districts to develop “same gender” schools.
• The Role Model Academy Act, to establish an innovative residential academy for at-risk youth.
• The Kinship Care Act, to create a $30 million demonstration program for states to use adult relatives as the preferred placement option for children separated from their parents.
• The Restitution and Responsibility Act, to provide grants to states for programs to make restitution to victims of crime.
• The Assets for Independence Act, to create a four-year, $100 million demonstration program to establish 50,000 Individual Development Accounts, to be used for the purchase of home, college education or small business.
• The Community Partnership Act, to institute demonstration grants for programs to match communities of faith with welfare recipients and nonviolent criminal offenders.

This is certainly a far cry from the types of legislation being introduced in Washington, D.C. today by Pelosi, Reid and Obama! America needs Dan Coats!

Bill Bennett Fundraiser For Dan Coats

Dear Fellow Hoosier:
 
Like you, over the past year I have grown
increasingly frustrated and alarmed by the 
dangerous path the Democrats are taking us
down.This national emergency is something
I've never seen before and never thought
would happen to America.
 
President Obama and his allies in Congress
have the wrong priorities and are forcing
an extreme left liberal agenda on the
country. I share your deep concern about
what's happening to our country and the
legacy we're going to leave for our children
and our grandchildren if we don't stand up
now and fight back hard. That's why I'm
running for the United States Senate.
 
But I cannot do it alone; I need your
support and am asking you to join me for
a fund raiser with special guest

Dr. Bill Bennett 
on
Wednesday, March 24th  
at
6:00 p.m.
in
Carmel, Indiana.  

If you are unable to attend, but would
like to support my campaign and receive
updates, please visit my website at
www.coatsforindiana.com.

Getting our country back on track and
getting Hoosiers back to work will take
more than just saying "NO!" to what the
Democrats are doing; although it is
never wrong to say no to a bad idea. We
also need to explain how we would fix
things when we earn that leadership role
again.
 
This year, we will give voters a choice
between the new status quo of runaway
spending and skyrocketing debt on one
hand -- and someone committed to making
the difficult decisions necessary to stop
the bleeding and set a course for recovery
from this extreme liberalism.
 
I ask for your support. If we work
together, we prevail. Bill Bennett and I
look forward to seeing you on Wednesday,
March 24 in Carmel!
 
Thank you,

Dan Coats

 
P.S.
         
Please visit my website at
www.coatsforindiana.com
to sign up for updates and to learn
more about my reception with special
guest Dr. Bill Bennett on March 24th.

  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 

DAN COATS FOR INDIANA

Dan Coats Interview By Steve Doocy Live On Fox and Friends

Coats Continues to Show Calm Command of Issues

Saturday morning, U.S. Senate candidate Dan Coats
joined four other Republicans  vying for their
party's nomination at a forum in Warsaw, Indiana.
As Coats' opponents attacked each other throughout
the event, he remained calm and focused on issues
important to Hoosiers during this critical period
in our history.

Fox News' Steve Brown: "Through it all...Coats kept
his cool. He talked about his faith. He talked about
freedom. He talked about eliminating federal
'earmarks'. He talked about abolishing the US
Department of Education. All met with approval of
the Tea Partiers gathered." Brown added,
"Afterwards...Coats told Fox News he was ready to
talk to Hoosiers anywhere in the state...and that
includes Tea Party folks."
(Fox News, Facing the Tea Party, 3/6/10)

Journal Gazette's Angela Mapes Turner: "A calm
Coats...told the crowd he believes his time
serving in the Army, in Congress and as an
ambassador - all during times of war - sets him
apart. Most importantly, he said, the GOP needs
to be united in its efforts. 'It's never wrong
to say no to a bad idea,' he said. 'We have to come
forward with constructive solutions.'"
(Journal Gazette, 
GOP Hopefuls Ramp Up Rhetoric in Debate, 3/7/10)

"A pattern has emerged in Dan's appearances before 
voters - a clear command of the issues facing our 
Nation today. On the economy, jobs, health care and 
national security - Dan Coats is the one candidate 
able to channel our frustrations into plans for
action and the ability to implement common-sense 
Hoosier values to fix our Nation's problems from 
Day One," said press secretary Pete Seat.

Key Indiana Conservatives On Dan Coats

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:


(INDIANAPOLIS, March 8, 2010) - Recently, Conservative
Hoosier leaders have recognized Dan Coats is the best
candidate to utilize common sense Hoosier values to
tackle the irresponsible spending sprees, mounting debt
and  security challenges brought about by our Nation's
current Democratic leadership.

Here's what they're saying:

Dan's Conservative Principles 

Congressman Mike Pence: "His integrity and conservative
record would make him the ideal candidate for Hoosiers."
(Congressional Quarterly, 2/3/10)

Congressman Steve Buyer: "Dan Coats is a man of
principle."
(Boone County Lincoln Day Dinner, 3/4/10)

Dan's Record

Governor Mitch Daniels: "He's got a real following in
the state. He deserves to. He was a really, really good
senator."
(Howey Politics Indiana, 2/24/10)

Attorney General Greg Zoeller: "I think what Sen.
Coats brings to the race is just a different level
of experience. It's really a different level of
candidacy."
(Politico, 2/13/10)

Dan's Chances Against the Democrat

Congressman Mark Souder: "He's our best chance to
win,"
(Journal Gazette, 2/4/10)

Dan's Ability to Start on Day One 

Former State Representative & former U.S. Senate  
candidate Dan Dumezich: "Dan Coats will be prepared
to answer the call of duty in this time of need. I'm
certain that he is the most qualified candidate to
save our great country."
(Release, 3/5/10)

Coats Unscathed at GOP Event

Chris Dickson and Senator Dan Coats

Dan Coats for Indiana
http://dancoatsforindiana.blogspot.com

Other candidates don’t refer to his lobbying career

Tom Davies

New Castle: The five Republicans who want to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh shared a stage for the first time just hours after the race for the Democratic pick cleared up more, with Rep. Baron Hill saying that he would seek re-election to the House and endorsed Rep. Brad Ellsworth for the Senate seat.

None of the four other Republican candidates at Saturday’s Henry County GOP event brought up the questions that Coats has faced over his work as a Washington lobbyist and his years spent away from Indiana.

All drew frequent applause from the crowd of about 200 people in a Moose lodge by faulting President Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress for their handling of the economy, push for revamping the health care system and increased federal spending.

“Washington is completely out of touch with America,” said state Sen. Marlin Stutzman of Howe. “I believe that people voted to change Washington, not to change America.”

Coats has the backing of national Republicans since he launched his Senate campaign Feb. 3, but his attempt at a political comeback 18 years after he was last on a ballot didn’t prompt any of the other candidates to drop their campaigns.

Coats reassured the crowd Saturday of his intentions if he wins the party’s nomination in the May 4 primary.

“I’ve re-engaged because I care deeply about my country and care deeply about the future of this country and am fearful, absolutely fearful, about where we’re headed,” he said.

The Republican primary campaign has taken on greater importance since Bayh’s Feb. 15 announcement that he wouldn’t seek a third term

Dan Coats Moves Ahead In Polling

Dan Coats

Indiana polling

The Indiana political reporter Ed Feigenbaum reports:

Polling last Monday and Tuesday for a congressional candidate in one hotly contested primary found the Senate primary race to be a runaway of sorts in that particular district for [Dan Coats] ... leading the field by a wide percentage margin well into the double digits, with only one of the other hopefuls [John Hostetler] even breaking the 10 percent support threshold — and [conservative favorite Marlin Stutzman] checking in at a surprisingly low 2 percent — but with boatloads of yet-undecided voters.

A source who's seen the poll of GOP primary voters confirmed the account and says it was from Indiana's 4th District.

Posted by Ben Smith 11:54 AM
Politico

Dan Coats: Fox News Interview by Neil Cavuto

Dan Coats for Indiana
http://dancoatsforindiana.blogspot.com

Dan Coats Ft. Wayne Interivew

Dan Coats for Indiana
http://dancoatsforindiana.blogspot.com

Dan Coats on the Democrats Approach to the War On Terror

Dan Coats

“I would characterize it as the failure of
the liberal left to understand the realities
of the world that we live in and the threats 
to the world order as well as threats to
America. There’s always been this thought
that we’ve taken too strong of a position.
If we just open up our hands and embrace
our enemies, they will see the folly of their
ways and their policies. That was a
theoretical position of liberals. Once they
got in charge of everything, total control
of the government, they tried it. And it has
been the failure across the board. There was
Gitmo. There was homeland defense. Whether it
is   dealing with adversaries that see all of
this as a sign of weakness. I think that has
been demonstrated in great detail for
Americans to look at. And I think the
understanding now is that that has been a
total failure.”

T

Dan Coats on Iran

Dan Coats

“What do we do now? I think we face up to the
facts and let the   American people and the
world know that everybody has to eat their words.
Everyone on both sides of the aisle, on both
sides of the   Atlantic, around the world, has
said it is unacceptable to allow Iran   to
obtain nuclear weapons. And yet, no one has
gone past that point   and said “If it’s
unacceptable, what are we going to do?” And now
it seems we’re being asked to accept the
unacceptable.”

T

The Death Of America: We Need Dan Coats Now!

Dan Coats for Indiana
http://dancoatsforindiana.blogspot.com

"RENEWING THE AMERICAN DREAM"

At about the time our original 13 States adopted their new Constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinborough, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic, some 2,000 years prior:

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time voters discover that they can vote themselveds generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse over loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship."

He goes on to say, "The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

From bondage to spiritual faith;
From spiritual faith to courage;
From courage to liberty;
From liberty to abundance;
From abundance to complacency;
From complacency to apathy;
From apathy to dependence;
From dependence back to bondage."

Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, points out some interesting facts concerning the Gore/Bush Presidential election:

Population of Counties won:
by Gore: 127 million
by Bush: 143 million

Square miles of land won:
by Gore: 580,000
by Bush: 2,427,000

Sates won:
by Gore: 19
by Bush: 29

Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won:
by Gore: 13.2
by Bush: 2.1

Professor Olson adds, "In aggregate, the map of territory Bush won was (mostly) the land owned by the tax-paying citizens of this great country. Gore's territory encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements..."

Although America's run at Democracy has exceeded the 200 year average, Olson believed the U.S. was then somewhere between the "apathy" and the "complacency" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of Democracy; with some 40 percent of the nation's population already having reached the "government dependency" phase.

So here we are now, in 2009, and what have we seen? The government take-over of the banks and automotive companies in America; Obama fired the President of General Motors; Cap and Trade (Cap & Tax) , driving up the cost of energy by $2000-$3000 per household; Universal Healthcare with absolutely no way of paying for it; the National Debt raised to over one Trillion Dollars with no accountability as to where the money went or was spent; New York City's combined tax rate of 67 percent. Need more proof? Then watch this:

America is now on "life support" and probably won't survive the next four years! We need Dan Coats now, more than ever !

Dan Coats for Indiana

Tully: For Now It's All About Coats

Dan Coats for Indiana
http://dancoatsforindiana.blogspot.com

by Matthew Tully
Indianapolis Star

Most of the state's political attention this week has focused on Sen. Evan Bayh's surprise retirement from the U.S. Senate and the efforts by his fellow Democrats to select a new nominee.

But on the other side of the aisle, Republicans are gearing up for a crowded, entertaining and possibly divisive primary. Although several candidates are expected to be on the ballot when filing closes today, the GOP race for now looks like a referendum on one contender in particular: former Sen. Dan Coats.

Coats' campaign has generated more strong opinions and more intense scrutiny than the rest of the field combined. So let's look at both what Coats has going for him as the primary season heats up, and the factors that could hurt his campaign.

We'll start with some pluses.

Name ID: Here's the rest of the potential field: former U.S. Rep. John Hostettler, state Sen. Marlin Stutzman, Richmond financial adviser Don Bates Jr. and Fishers business owner Richard Behney. Not exactly a star-studded lineup.

Coats, meanwhile, spent a decade as Indiana's junior senator, winning two statewide elections along the way. In a crowded primary field, and with less than three months for candidates to meet voters before they head to the polls, Coats has the advantage of not having to introduce himself to as many Hoosiers, or convince them of his credentials.

After all, many Hoosiers have already voted for him. His job now will be to convince them he's still worthy of that vote. Additionally, his profile likely will give him a crucially important edge in fundraising.

The surprise factor: It's easy to forget, but not so long ago it appeared the Senate seat was comfortably in Democratic hands. Coats' entry focused attention quickly on the race, causing handicappers to label it competitive even before Bayh's decision. Coats made a splash that energized many Republicans, and that could pay off on Election Day.

High-caliber politician: In a short, intense campaign, there is little room for error. Coats has been through big campaigns before and should be ready for the spotlight. He still has statewide contacts and relationships, and a deep understanding of the issues the next senator will face.

Go to Matthew Tully, Indianapolis Star, to read further...