Tippecanoe County Democrats —

Democrat Brad Ellsworth and Republican Dan Coats will debate three times on television before the general election in November. Times and places are to be determined. Libertarian Rebecca Sink-Burris will be included. You can read more from the Chicago tribune here.

On its website, Facebook, and Twitter, Dan Coats's campaign dared Brad Ellsworth to invite President Obama to Indiana: “Does Ellsworth want Obama to campaign with him?” Answer from Ellsworth campaign: You bet! An Ellsworth campaign spokesperson said the President is welcome in Indiana anytime and that it will invite the President here: "Anytime you have an opportunity to show off the great businesses and people of this state to the commander in chief, you take advantage of it.” Read more from Jim Shella's blog here.

David Sanders, Democratic candidate for representative for the Indiana 4th Congressional District, has challenged his Republican opponent, Todd Rokita, to a series of debates in every county in the district starting in August. As an incumbent Steve Buyer steadfastly refused to debate Sanders. Rokita's response was to delay. A campaign spokesperson said that Rokita prefers to wait for invitations from the organizations that have traditionally sponsored debates: "There are a lot of independent groups, such as the Farm Bureau and other service organizations, that put these debates on every year. They do a good job ... and get strong attendance." Lots of innovative thinking there. You can read more here.

In an interview with the Indianapolis Star, Republican Senate candidate Dan Coats addressed the issue of his activities as a lobbyist in Washington. He argues that it was a highly principled business: "I'm not defensive about any company or entity that I lobbied for. They met my standards, they met the firm's standards, and I also understand that in the political arena these things are fair game." He said he stipulated at both firms that he would not work on cases that conflicted with his views or with the votes he'd cast in Congress. State Democratic Party chair Dan Parker rejects Coats's argument that he should not be tied to his company's lobbying effots on behalf of Yemen, BP, and others: "As the co-chair of King & Spalding's Government Advocacy and Public Policy division, Dan Coats is responsible for the clients and issues that his firm lobbies on, period. Dan Coats' firm was paid millions by these clients -- money that helped pay his salary." You can read more from the Star here. WISH political reported Jim Shella calls Coats's disclosure "as much political spin as it was meaningful information" and noted that the information was released on news-unfriendly Saturday; read Shella's comments here.

On Friday Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski presided at the dedication of the new Veterans Memorial Parkway, formerly 350 South. "We will never be able to repay you or your families," the Mayor told veterans attending the ceremony, but the renaming of the newly developed road "is an attempt to do that." The road now includes new banners honoring the five branches of the U.S. military and flag-themed banners depicting the road's new name. Read more from the J&C here.

President Barack Obama used his weekly address this week to encourage all Americans to remember those who, in Lincoln's words, have given "the last full measure of devotion" for their country on this Memorial Day. You can view President Obama's address here.