Yesterday, a debate was held between the republican U.S. senatorial candidates. It was by the held by the Kosciusko County tea party group, Kosciusko Silent No More.
Of the 400 that made it into the Center Lake Pavilion to hear the standing room only debate, 237 people participated in a non-scientific straw poll.
Overall vote:
Marlin Stutzman 80
Richard Behney 76
Don Bates Jr. 47
John Hostettler 18
Dan Coats 16
Kosciusko County residents:
Marlin Stutzman 39
Don Bates Jr. 20
Richard Behney 15
John Hostettler 7
Dan Coats 3
It appears that Mr. Coats doesn’t have the “inside track” some think. It’s that incumbent thing, hanging around his neck like a scarlet letter.
While I agree with many of the stances the Tea Party groups have taken, this isn’t one of them.
From the Indy Defenders of Liberty group email listserv:
I have contacted the Indiana Republican office with my views on Coats and just sent an e-mail to John Cornyn. If enough people make it clear they are damaging the Republican name by backing Coats maybe we could get them to change their stance. I borrowed a line from the website you listed and let him know that many Republicans may have no choice but to hold their nose and vote for Ellsworth if Coats is our only other choice. That is my nightmare–a choice between those two–I have had to deal with Ellsworth for two years and have met with him–he is not informed at all on any issues I brought up and is nothing more than a complete Pelosi follower.
I assume when they refer to “the Indiana Republican office” they’re talking about the state GOP. It should be noted, the Indiana Republican Party has not endorsed any candidate in this race.
I understand how they feel about Coats. But to threaten to vote for a democrat is patently absurd, especially one as liberal as Brad Ellsworth.
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Tags: #insen, Dan Coats, Don Bates, John Hostettler, Marlin Stutzman, Richard Behney
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I think it was a slap in the face of all the good legitimate candidates that were already running for the Republican party to bring Coats back out of mothballs to try and run.
I am only slightly surprised at the straw poll, but my surprise is where Coats landed, but where other candidates ranked.
Hopefully the Republican voters feel the way the people at the debate feel.
LOL, when the scientific polls are done they are a reverse order of the straw poll. Behney is a former Tea Party president and Stuzman is from the area and had a membership drive to show at debate. While cute theatrics not reality.
A tea party hosted event with the state's king of the tea parties participating and Beheny didn't even win. Tea party get a clue.
J.M.,
You a bit off on your comment. The tea party doesn't back Beheny in toto just because he's the founder of the Indianapolis Tea Party and was lucky enough to get on Glenn Beck., hence his 15 seconds of fame.
There are many that support Hostettler and Stutzman, not so much for Bates and very very few that support Coats.
Maybe if you involved yourself in one of the groups you'd know better than to make unfounded statements like this one.
AWB,
Fair enough. Correctly stated.
I should have said, Beheny camp get a clue.
Thanks J.M.,
What I see in many Behney supporter within the Tea Party movement is not unlike Obama supporters before he was elected president.
Some were truly moved when Behney was asked at the debate who he thought should be the next president and Beheny replied, (paraphrasing), "God hasn't told me yet."
Next act: Walking on water.
He came a close second in an area where Stutzman should have killed him and we need to get a clue! What a moron! Throw all politicians out!
I efuse to vote for the RNCs anti-gun, carpet bagging, virginia lobbiest who voted to ban my Smith and Wesson 9mm in 1994.