Research 2000 for Daily Kos (2/22-24, likely voters, no trendlines):
Brad Ellsworth (D): 36
Dan Coats (R): 37
Undecided: 27
Brad Ellsworth (D): 34
John Hostettler (R): 40
Undecided: 26
Baron Hill (D): 37
Dan Coats (R): 37
Undecided: 26
Baron Hill (D): 36
John Hostettler (R): 42
Undecided: 22
Jim Schellinger (D): 34
Dan Coats (R): 39
Undecided: 27
Jim Schellinger (D): 33
John Hostettler (R): 44
Undecided: 23
(MoE: ±4%)
This poll went into the field before Indiana Democrats coalesced around Rep. Brad Ellsworth - and before Rep. Baron Hill took himself out of the running. Architect and 2008 Dem gubernatorial candidate Jim Schellinger also won't be our nominee, but the inclusion of his name lets us see how a non-DC name fares. And the bottom line is that it's competitive all around.
Perhaps even more interesting, though, is that lunatic John Hostettler, who was teabagging before they even invented tea, performs better than creaky beltway creature and North Carolina resident Dan Coats. While the CW says we should always be rooting for teabaggers in GOP primaries, Coats' abysmal resume has me questioning that assumption. Hoss really is nucking futs, though, and as a notoriously feckless fundraiser, he probably can't raise nearly as much money as Coats can. I'm torn - I want them both to win!
