Tamyra d'Ippolito did not receive the necessary petition signatures in order to qualify for running for Senate in Indiana, a spokesman for the state Democratic Party tells RealClearPolitics. D'Ippolito's inability to get 500 signatures from each of the state's nine congressional districts by today's noon deadline saves Democrats from being forced to rely on a politcal unknown and allows the party to hand-pick its nominee to succeed the retiring Evan Bayh.

Bayh's last-minute retirement announcement left potential candidates, such as Rep. Brad Ellsworth, unable to meet the deadline to turn in petitions, but also gave the party a dream scenario in which no costly or damaging primary is necessary. Once Friday's noon deadline for filing candidacy papers passes, the party's state central committee can meet to choose its nominee.

The Indy Star reports two Republican candidates for Senate -- State Sen. Marlin Stutzman and financial adviser Don Bates Jr. -- have officially filed the necessary paperwork with the secretary of state's office, while former Sen. Dan Coats, former Rep. John Hostettler and plumbing company owner Richard Behney say they have filed the necessary petition signatures.