INSen: Republican Coats raises four times more cash than Ellsworth

The bad news keeps rolling in for the Democrats. Remember: a year ago the Dems figured incumbent Senator Evan Bayh would enjoy another autumn coronation. But he's retiring and the seat will almost certainly go Republican.

From the Chicago Tribune:

Dan Coats collected more than four times the cash Democrat Brad Ellsworth took in during the most recent fundraising quarter -- a sign of continuing support for the Republican who hopes to once again be a U.S. senator.

Coats reported raising more than $2 million during the reporting period covering July 1 through Sept. 30. Ellsworth's campaign said it took in $494,000 during that time. The candidates' finance reports were due Friday.

Coats has more than $1.3 million on hand, and a recent poll showed him with a comfortable lead heading toward the Nov. 2 election. So far during this election cycle, Coats has raised $4.1 million and spent about $2.7 million.

"Clearly the momentum is in Dan Coats' favor right now," said Coats campaign spokesman Pete Seat. Coats represented Indiana in the House starting in 1981 and was in the Senate from 1989 to 1999.

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