Former Sen. Dan Coats won the Republican nomination today, in his attempt to return to the U.S. Senate, to fill the place of retiring Evan Bayh. Of the three major GOP contenders, he was the least desirable, as he’s sort of an establishmentarian. My vote would have been for John Hostettler, who, like J.D. Hayworth in Arizona, was unfortunately and undeservedly bounced out of Congress in 2006′s blue wave, and trying to make a comeback in the Upper Chamber four years later. As it is, Coats will face off with House Blue Dogger Brad Ellsworth, who has probably the best immigration record among all the major candidates for that Senate seat in Indiana. If I lived in Indiana, I’d very likely vote for Ellsworth in November.
In Ohio, it looks like it’s Democrat Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher vs Rob Portman, former Congressman and Bush 43 Admin. trade ombusdman. I don’t know anything about Fisher, but I definitely wouldn’t vote Portman if I lived in Ohio — He’s a free trader, which, in a rust belt state like Ohio, will go over like a whore farting in church. Therefore, I think Fisher will win.
This certainly complicates Republican hopes to take over the Senate.
