Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that while Coats was a lobbyist in Washington, he did not perform that function for 28 years.
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Brad Ellsworth, behind more than 20 points in a statewide poll last month, currently has no plans to visit the Indiana college campuses that helped fuel Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election.
Ellsworth, the U.S. representative for Indiana's 8th District, still could visit Ball State as his campaign puts together the schedule for next month, the final weeks leading to the Nov. 2 election, spokeswoman Liz Farrar said.
"He believes that young voters' enthusiasm proves that not only they are paying attention, but they're actively trying to shape who represents them," she said.
Even if Ellsworth doesn't make it to campus, Ball State University Democrats are making a push for him.
They'll be registering voters from a table near the Jamba Juice lounge until registration ends Oct. 4. Wednesday was their first day out.
Nolan Born, president of University Democrats, said the organization will have a table set up two or three times a week in the same location, and they'll be registering voters around campus as well.
A recent poll by Rasmussen Reports showed Ellsworth trailing Republican candidate Dan Coats by 21 percent, but Born said he isn't worried.
"It was 50-30 Coats. That leaves about 20 percent voting for someone else or undecided," Born said. "A lot of people know Coats. We need to get [Ellsworth's] name out and people will vote for him."
Born campaigned for Democrats statewide this summer, and he ran into Ellsworth several times on the campaign trail.
"As a person, he's a great guy," Born said. "People are tired of the people in Washington. He's always had Indiana in his best interest."
University Democrats helped register about 8,000 students in the 2008 election, Born said, and he hopes to get just as many registered in this campaign.
Democrats did well in Delaware County two years ago, when Obama grabbed 57 percent of the vote compared to 42 percent for Republican candidate John McCain. That was the eighth-best showing for the Democrats among Indiana's 92 counties in a year when Republican Mitch Daniels won the county in the governor's race.
Coats was on campus Tuesday and spoke to about 50 people at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center.
About 60 students registered to vote Wednesday at the Democrats' table in the Atrium, including Kyle Kovert.
The sophomore said he wasn't old enough to vote in the 2008 election, and he's glad he'll get a say in the November midterm election.
"This is the first time I'll be able to vote, and I'm looking forward to it," he said.
Ellsworth visited Bloomington on Tuesday for a fundraiser, and he stopped at South Bend last week. Ellsworth's schedule for the next few weeks is still up in the air.
"He is sort of in a constant state of motion the next couple weeks," Farrar said.
Steve Jackson, the campaign's regional field director in Bloomington, described Ellsworth as "very much the same kind of guy he was in the sheriff's department."
Not that the former lawman isn't able to defend himself: While he was in South Bend, Ellsworth criticized the lobbying work of Coats' former Washington law firm.
Later this week, he'll speak in South Bend and Fort Wayne to commemorate the 9/11 terror attacks. Farrar said Ellsworth will continue to talk about his key themes, jobs and the economy.
Mitch Isaacs, associate director of Student Life, spoke with Ellsworth's field manager Tuesday. Isaacs said he hopes to hear back from the campaign staff soon about a possible visit to campus. Isaacs said he'd like to get Ellsworth, Coats and Libertarian candidate Rebecca Sink-Burris to speak on campus.
Ellsworth, 51, who was born in Jasper and moved to Evansville at age 9, has succeeded in law enforcement and politics despite being something of an introvert, said his wife, Beth, in an interview with The Indianapolis Star.
Farrar said the race is closer than the most recent poll showed.
"When people know who they're voting for — 25 years in law enforcement, three-and-a-half years in Congress [versus Coats' record of] 28 years in Washington ... folks that know Brad really like him," she said.
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