Rep. Brad Ellsworth with Sen. Bayh and Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel (photo courtesy of Evan Bayh)
The local Courier Press-News in Evansville reports that Rep. Brad Ellsworth will be tapped to run for the US Senate by the Indiana Democratic Party, with a state Representative then taking his place on the House ballot in IN-08.
U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth will run for Senate, and state Rep. Trent Van Haaften will seek his seat in Congress, multiple Democratic sources said Thursday morning.
As Democrats have searched for someone to replace retiring Sen. Evan Bayh on the ballot this November, Ellsworth, the former Vanderburgh County sheriff, has been a focal point, along with U.S. Rep. Baron Hill of Seymour.
The Indiana Democratic Party’s 32-member central committee will determine Bayh’s replacement. Anthony Long, the party’s 8th Congressional District chairman, said he expected a Ellsworth’s decision this morning. No official announcement has been made.
Ellsworth, a former sheriff, is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition with a conservative voting record, who has been endorsed in past Congressional campaigns by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Rifle Association.
Meanwhile, if Rasmussen can be believed (and at this stage of the election cycle, I actually don’t think they can), any Democrat would poll well behind the Republican candidates in Indiana.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely Indiana voters shows former GOP Congressman John Hostettler leading Baron Hill 49% to 31% and Brad Ellsworth 46% to 27%.
Former Senator Dan Coats, whose entry in the race has the blessing of the GOP establishment but has angered some Indiana Republicans, runs ahead of Hill 48% to 32% and ahead of Ellsworth 46% to 32%.
Another announced Republican hopeful, freshman state Senator Marlin Stutzman, leads Hill 41% to 33% and Ellsworth by a 40% to 30% margin.
Best to see some more independent polling before confirming this.
Speaking on CNN last night, Evan Bayh promised to use some of his $13 million dollar war chest to “help our nominee” in Indiana, so despite the late entry, whoever on the Democratic side will have some resources to work with.
As an editorial aside, if it’s Ellsworth, let Bayh fund him.
