Coats taps 14 former Senate colleagues for fundraiser

Former Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) is hitting up his former colleagues as he attempts a return to the Senate.

Coats was slated Monday night to hold a fundraiser in Washington headlined by a whopping 14 former senators -- most who have other business in Washington.

The host list for Coats's Monday reception at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse was slated to include former Sens. Spencer Abraham (Mich.), Trent Lott (Miss.), John Ashcroft (Mo.), Connie Mack (Fla.), Norm Coleman (Miss.), Mel Martinez (Fla.), Bob Dole (Kan.), Don Nickles (Okla.), Pete Domenici (N.M.), Rick Santorum (Pa.), Slade Gorton (Wash.), Gordon Smith (Ore.), Tim Hutchinson (Ark.) and John Warner (Va.).

That's two former Senate majority leaders, three former cabinet officials and several other recently departed former senators.

Suggested donations to Coats's Indiana Senate campaign were $2,500 per PAC and $2,400 per person to host, and $1,000 to attend.

UPDATE: Coats's campaign says Lott, Mack, Nickles, Hutchinson and Warner attended.