Brad Ellsworth May Announce Run for Evan Bayh's Seat
CBS News has learned that with the White House's encouragement, Rep. Brad Ellsworth, a former sheriff and pro-life Democrat, may soon announce that he intends to run for the Illinois Senate seat being vacated by moderate Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh.
The 51-year-old Huntingburg, Indiana native, who represents Evansville, was first elected to the House in 2006. He is denying that he has decided to run.
"I have not made a decision about whether to run for the U.S. Senate," Ellsworth said in a statement Thursday. "I am continuing to talk with my family and Hoosiers throughout Indiana about where I can best serve our state."
"Put simply, this is a decision I don't take lightly," he added. "I want to make sure whatever decision I make is the right one for my family, my constituents, and the state of Indiana." Ellsworth said that after tomorrow he "will have more time to devote to giving this great responsibility the serious consideration it deserves."
According to CBS News Chief Political Consultant Marc Ambinder, "Ellsworth cuts a great profile for the state -- though he voted for health care reform, he voted against the stimulus package in the House, and voted against cap and trade legislation to boot."
On Thursday, former Sen. Dan Coats, a Republican who served 18 years in Congress, filed paperwork to run for the seat.
"Hoosiers are demanding true representation of their views on jobs, national security, runaway federal spending and the extreme liberal Washington agenda that has been shoved down our throats," he said in a statement.