Ellsworth blasts Coats on Wabash jobs

WABASH, Ind. (WISH-TV) - Democrat Brad Ellsworth went on the attack again Monday. He says Republican Dan Coats bears at least some responsibility for a plant closing in northern Indiana that resulted in jobs going to Canada and Mexico.

Ellsworth went to Wabash and a demolition site because jobs is the biggest issue in the Senate race. A parts factory known as GDX Automotive once stood on the site. "This factory behind me, GDX, is on Mr. Coats's resume," said Ellsworth.

GDX was onced owned by Cerberus Capital Management . Dan Coats spent time working for Cerberus . "When you are a direct lobbyist and direct consultant for the company that did this to 800 employees in this town," said Ellsworth, "I think Hoosiers have the right to know that."

Cerberus purchased GDX Automotive in 2004. Dan Coats went to work for Cerberus in 2005. In 2007 the plant was sold in a deal that forced its closure. They are facts that caused one former GDX employee, Roger Smith, to encourage Ellsworth when WISH-TV reporter Jim Shella told him that Ellsworth is trying to hang the closing on Dan Coats. "Well, he should hang it on him," said Smith, "because Dan Coats is the one that done it."

But at Coats headquarters spokesman Pete Seat shrugged off the charges. "His work in that capacity (consulting Cerberus) was limited to Germany," said Seat, "and it had nothing to do with the attack that Congressman Ellsworth trotted out today."

Seats characterized Ellsworth's claim as a false accusation from a "desperate campaign."

Either way it's a message that Ellsworth must put in TV ads in order to be effective and he won't say when his ads will resume. "We haven't decided yet but it'll be soon," said Ellsworth.

But will it be soon enough? The election is just 43 days away and the absence of TV ads is a sign of money trouble in the Ellsworth campaign. He needs to quickly convince Washington Democrats that he has a chance to win or his problems will get worse.