Coats's painful retirement plans

In the category of damaging video, here comes a doozy for former Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.).

The DSCC has landed footage of the new challenger to Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) saying in 2008 that he planned to retire to North Carolina. That's on top of the fact that he left Indiana to become a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. a decade ago.

Perhaps more painful for Coats is the fact that, in announcing his retirement plans to John McCain supporters in North Carolina, he joked that they shouldn't "tell the good people of Indiana."

Lobbying in Washington to make some money is one thing; leaving behind your home state in retirement is a whole different thing.

It's also pretty good proof that Coats hadn't planned on making a return to politics.

Have a look at the opposition researcher's dream:

Update 7:15 p.m. Saturday: Coats spokesman Kevin Kellems responds.

“Few people could have predicted the fiscal train wreck that Evan Bayh and his liberal allies have created for Indiana and the nation when Dan and Marsha Coats bought a second home to spend more time near her aging parents in North Carolina," Kellems said in a statement. "Now that Dan has no plans to retire, he and Mrs. Coats will likely be selling their second home. Like many Hoosiers, Dan Coats believes we need to take bold and immediate steps to get our nation back on track before it’s too late, and he is willing and ready to do his part.”