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Indiana Democrats set to confirm Bayh as Senate candidate

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana Democratic Party leaders are poised to confirm former U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh as the party’s new U.S. Senate candidate after his surprise decision to seek a political comeback.

The Democratic state committee is set to vote during a private meeting Friday evening on selecting Bayh to replace former U.S. Rep. Baron Hill as the nominee for the seat now held by Republican Sen. Dan Coats, who is retiring.

Little-known perennial candidate Bob Kern of Indianapolis is the only other candidate seeking the Democratic bid.

The 60-year-old Bayh retired from the Senate in 2010, and his entry into the race boosts the chances of Democrats regaining control of the chamber this fall.

Republican nominee U.S. Rep. Todd Young has criticized Bayh for living and working in Washington since leaving the Senate.