Hostettler running despite Coats bid

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) -- Former Indiana Republican Congressman John Hostettler says he doesn't plan on dropping his U.S. Senate campaign in favor of former Sen. Dan Coats.

The former six-term congressman says he's been working since December with a network of volunteers to collect the 4,500 signatures needed to get on the May primary ballot.

Coats last week authorized supporters to try to gather the needed signatures by the Feb. 16 deadline. The winner of the
Republican primary will challenge Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh.

Hostettler tells the Evansville Courier & Press that he doesn't feel slighted by the recruitment of Coats by national Republicans. He says if he had waited for the support of party leaders he probably would never have run for Congress.