Dems using the Internet to attack Coats

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Republican Dan Coats is not yet a candidate for U.S. Senate, but he is already under attack by Democrats.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is running attack ads on the Internet in an apparent effort to keep Coats out of the race against Evan Bayh. The ads show parts of a YouTube video of a Coats speech given in 2008.

The video was taken when Coats spoke to the North Carolina delegation at the 2008 Republican National Convention. In it he talks about plans he and his wife Marsha have to move from Virginia.

“We have joined her parents in North Carolina and have a home down there," said Coats. "Used as a second home but hopefully it'll be our first home and then I'll be able to register and vote for your two Senators and Congressmen and be a North Carolinian."

Coats set up the remarks by saying, "Don't tell the good people of Indiana."

It's not the biggest problem Coats faces as he considers a run for the Indiana Senate. Acquiring the 4500 petition signatures necessary to get on the ballot is. The attacks could be designed to hurt that effort.

It prompted a debate on Indiana Week in Review where Republican Mike McDaniel said, "I just get a kick out of the Democrats already attacking Dan Coats and he's not even running yet. That tells ya right there this guy is a formidable candidate or they wouldn't be puckered up the way they are and going after him the way they are.”

Democrat John Gregg said, "I don't think they're trying to keep him off the ballot. That would not be the Democratic tradition. That was the Republican tradition to keep Evan off the ballot."

Evan Bayh was the subject of an unsuccessful residency challenge when he ran for governor in 1988.

Coats began collecting signatures Friday using volunteers and contract vendors to get the job done.

Meantime, none of the four other Republican candidates have met the signature requirement yet with the February 16 deadline fast approaching.

State Democratic Chairman Dan Parker said Evan Bayh has the signatures gathered but won't file the petitions until he can do it personally in about 10 days.