As a former Senator and lobbyist, Indiana Republican Dan Coats understandably has drawn financial support for his Senate bid from GOP luminaries with Washington, D.C., ties.

That fact was highlighted by Coats’ recently filed preprimary fundraising report, which showed he raised $67,000 in the first two weeks of April and about $446,000 since entering the race in early February.

Coats got $250 last month from former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R), who weighed but ultimately declined a campaign to challenge Sen. Russ Feingold (D).

Other Coats donors in early April: ex-Sens. Don Nickles (Okla.) and Connie Mack (Fla.); Vin Weber, a former Minnesota Congressman who is managing partner of Clark & Weinstock; Eric Ueland, a vice president at the Duberstein Group who was once chief of staff to former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.); and Bill Brewster, a former Democratic Congressman from Oklahoma who heads the Capitol Hill Consulting Group.

Coats is the best-funded Republican in the May 4 primary that includes former Rep. John Hostettler and state Sen. Marlin Stutzman. The winner will face Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D) in November.