DeMint: GOP should unite around Coats

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who endorsed an opponent of former Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) in Tuesday's primary, said the GOP should rally around Coats now that he has won the party's nomination.

Coats led DeMint's candidate, state Sen. Marlin Stutzman, 39-30 with 89 percent of precincts reporting. DeMint has been backing anti-establishment conservatives in several races around the country.

"Over the past two weeks, Dan Coats worked very hard to earn this nomination," DeMint said on his website. "This primary was competitive but now it's time for Republicans to unite behind Dan so he can defeat the Democrat in November.

"I want to commend Marlin Stutzman for running an outstanding campaign. Marlin had the odds stacked against him. This was his first statewide race and he was opposed by the Washington establishment. Yet he exceeded all expectations with an unwavering commitment to conservative principles. Marlin ran a strong campaign and has a bright future ahead of him."

DeMint raised more than $200,000 for Stutzman through the senator's Senate Conservatives Fund.