INDIANA VOTES – AT 8:02 P.M. ET:  The critical Indiana primary for the U.S. Senate nomination is today.  The winner will be a strong favorite in November to fill the seat being vacated by Evan Bayh. 

Former Senator Dan Coats, who'd held the seat in the 90s, is slightly favored to win the nomination.  He carries baggage.  After leaving the Senate he essentially abandoned Indiana, became a lobbyist and is on record as saying he'd wanted to become a North Carolinian.

Whatever his demerits, Coats is vastly superior to his main challenger, certified nutbag and former Republican Congressman John Hostettler, once a rising power in the House until thrown out in a landslide by his conservative district.  Hostettler, who presents himself as a conservative, is not.  He's a reactionary, and conspiracy theorist.  He also claims to be religious.  He is not.  He's a religious nut.  There's a difference. 

The best candidate is probably State Senator Marlin Stutzman, but he's not very well known, unfortunately.

We're for Coats or Stutzman.  Results later tonight.

May 4, 2010