Bayh Delivers Keynote Address - Aug. 27, 1996

Coats Will Not Run For Re-Election

INDIANAPOLIS (AllPolitics, Dec. 16) -- In a surprise move, Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) said he will not seek re-election in 1998. Coats says he wants to leave Capitol Hill while he's young enough to start a new career.

In a statement today, the 53-year-old senator said, "I want to leave when I am young enough to contribute somewhere else, young enough to resume a career outside government."

The Republican Party has learned to rely on Coats, a staunch social conservative, to speak out on such issues as abortion and gays in the military.

"I will continue to challenge my own party on its responsibilities to the poor, to speak strongly for the value and dignity of human life, to be an advocate for children and families," Coats said.

Coats was first appointed to Dan Quayle's Senate seat in 1989 after Quayle became vice president. Before that, he had served eight years in the House of Representatives.

A long-time proponent of congressional term limits, the senator had faced a likely challenge from Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh, a Democratic rising star who delivered the keynote address at this year's Democratic National Convention.

Though Bayh has not Decided to run, early polls testing the potential 1998 match-up showed Bayh with a significant lead over Coats. Even so, insiders anticipated a fierce campaign and following today's announcement, Bayh supporters began calling the governor to offer their early congratulations.

Bayh himself was surprised and pleased by the news and admitted that Coats' retirment will factor into into his own Decision-making process. But he cautions that it is naive "for people to jump to the conclusion that Republicans will not be formidable [and] have a well-qualified, agressive candidate."

Should Bayh win, he would reclaim the seat his father Birch Bayh held until 1980 when he was defeated by Quayle.