Former Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., who once held Sen. Evan Bayh’s seat, will challenge his successor, according to The Hill.
Howley Politics Indiana reported Coates' entry into the race, the political news site reported.
The source, former aide Curt Smith of the Indiana Family Institute, told Howley that Coats knows he has about two weeks to gather the 4,500 signatures - 500 per Congressional district - in two weeks.
Coats was up for re-election in 1998 when he decided to retire, citing the pressures of constant fundraising. Bayh then defeated former Fort Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke to reclaim his father's Senate seat.
Last week, Republicans lost a potential contender, House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence, R-Ind., after he announced he would not enter the 2010 Senate contest.
Pence was seen as a tough loss for the GOP. But in Coats, they receive a potentially strong candidates who has name recognition amongst Hoosiers, The Hill reported.
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