U.S. Senate candidate Dan Coats visits Bloomington

The anticipation was high in the room as members of the IU College Republicans began trickling in for a luncheon with Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dan Coats.

With less than one week remaining until the Nov. 2 election, Coats took about an hour off the campaign trail to come to a pizza luncheon and meet-and-greet with the student organization.

“It’s time to say what I just said, and that is, ‘I couldn’t do it without you, you’re the ones who make the difference.’ And I don’t want to ignore that,” Coats said about why he devoted this much time so close to the election to an event that didn’t specifically involve campaigning.

Before pizza was served, Coats spoke to the dozen or so Republican volunteers gathered for the occasion.

“I am a strong, total believer in ground forces,” he said to the group. “You are the front line that connects to people that go to the polls to vote, and that is what wins elections.”

Coats also spoke about the close relationship all the Republican candidates in the state have had. He said it is unusual for candidates for the House and Senate to be so close, but this year they have been.

Coats is a former U.S. senator, U.S. representative and U.S. ambassador. He is running against Democrat Brad Ellsworth, who is currently serving as a U.S. Representative from Indiana’s 8th Congressional District.

— Michael Auslen