Coats Strengthens Position

A new Rasmussen poll released today of likely voters suggests that former senator Dan Coats is strengthening his position. In a head to head match-up with Brad Ellsworth, Coats received 54% support, up five points from last month. Meanwhile the other front-runner in the race, John Hostettler, picks up 50% of voters. In both hypothetical match-ups Ellsworth receives only 33% support.

Most likely Coats’s recent TV ad campaign helped raise his numbers. As we first reported here at Hoosier Advocate, one statewide poll of likely GOP voters shows John Hostettler within striking distance of Coats. But over the weekend a Coats staffer peddled internal polling painting a much different story in which Coats had a sizable lead.

There is certainly reason to believe a Coats lead – he served as senator for quite a while and has sizable name ID. Yet the Rasmussen polls also reinforce the strength Hostettler has throughout the state, and not just in Southern Indiana. Indianapolis-based political junkies often seem to have trouble comprehending his popularity, but even the relatively reliable Rasmussen numbers affirm Hostettler’s potency statewide and support the notion of an even race between Hostettler and Coats.

Regardless of the GOP nominee, Ellsworth’s public career seems destined to end after this November’s election. His support is stuck in the low 30’s. A healthy 65% favor repeal of the recently passed health care law which he helped pass, including 56% who strongly favor repeal. 56% favor the state suing the federal government to prevent the health care plan from becoming law and 55% of voters in the state say their own views on the issues of the day are closer to the views of the average Tea Party member than to those of President Obama.

Comments are closed.