Pro-Life Dan Coats Leads Indiana Senate Republican Primary

Exclusive: Leaked Senate Primary Poll

By Hoosier Advocate | April 10, 2010

Hoosier Advocate has obtained exclusive results of internal statewide polling conducted by one of the Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate in Indiana. The results suggest that three of the candidates stand decent chances of succeeding, with the race still wide open.

A telephone survey of likely voters across the state finds former Senator Dan Coats and former Congressman John Hostettler virtually tied at 29% and 26% respectively, within the margin of error. State Senator Marlin Stutzman also remains in striking distance with 18% of likely voters. The survey was taken last Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Nineteen percent (19%) remain undecided in that match-up. Here are the results of the head to head match-up:

Candidate April 6-7 Don Bates, Jr. 5% Richard Beheny 3% Dan Coats 29% John Hostettler 26% Marlin Stutzman 18% Undecided 19%

Unless there is a major shift in the electorate, Don Bates, Jr. and Richard Beheny face little chance of winning the primary. Ironically these two anti-establishment candidates appear to be helping the establishment’s candidate, Dan Coats, the most. According to the poll, voters who plan to vote for Bates or Beheny (8% of primary voters) would otherwise vote for Hostettler and Stutzman.

Coats is viewed favorably by 30% and very unfavorably by 22% of likely Republican voters. Hostettler is viewed very favorably by 32% and very unfavorably by 5%. Stutzman is viewed favorably by 20%, while 3% regard him very unfavorably.