Coats challenged getting on IN ballot

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - State figures show that three Republican candidates for U.S. Senate are closing in on having enough petition signatures to qualify for Indiana's May primary ballot by next week's deadline.

A state Election Board report on Monday showed no certified signatures yet for former Republican Sen. Dan Coats, who last week entered the race to challenge Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh.

Candidates must collect at least 500 signatures from registered voters in each of the state's nine congressional districts by Feb. 16 to get on the primary ballot.

Former Congressman John Hostettler, state Sen. Marlin Stutzman of Howe and Richmond financial adviser Don Bates Jr. all have at least several hundred signatures in each district, although not all counties report their number of certified signatures early.