GOP nominee Coats courts tea party in Senate bid

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INDIANAPOLIS —
Indiana tea party activists might never fully embrace former Sen. Dan Coats, but the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate is making a concerted effort to court the anti-establishment vote and win their support in the general election.

After the tea party's favored candidate lost the May primary to Coats, those voters weary of big government were expected to either stay home on Nov. 2 or begrudgingly back Coats over Democratic Rep. Brad Ellsworth. But Coats' wooing has persuaded some to actively seek to help him win Indiana's open Senate seat.

This weekend, the Tea Party of Michiana Action Coalition is holding a cookout in Elkhart to raise money for Coats and two tea party favorites, Republicans Jackie Walorski in the 2nd Congressional District and Marlin Stutzman in the 3rd District.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/wire/chi-ap-in-indianasenate-tea,0,7077210.story