INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Sen. Dan Coats is taking hits from both sides of the political aisle after announcing plans to try and take back his old seat back from Sen. Evan Bayh.

Shortly after last week's announcement, Democratic strategists went into full-on attack mode, challenging Coats on his residency and his ties to Washington lobbyists, 6News' Norman Cox reported.

Analysis: Capitol WatchBlog: Could Conservatives Be Coats’ Undoing?

They released a YouTube video of Coats speaking to North Carolina Republicans two years ago about his imminent move from Virginia to their state.

"And if you don't tell the good people of Indiana … we have joined (my wife's) parents in North Carolina and have a home down there, which we use as a second home, but hope will be our first home," Coats is heard telling supporters. "And then I'll be able to register and vote for your two senators and congressmen."

State Democrats said the video shows Coats doesn't have a strong connection to the Hoosier state.

"He wants to retire in North Carolina. I thought it was pretty damaging," said Indiana Democratic Chairman Dan Parker. "And now the question for him is, does he root for the Tar Heels, or does he root for the Hoosiers?"

Democrats are also calling Coats a Washington insider because of his previous lobbying job, but they're not alone.

State Sen. Marlin Stutzman, R-Howe, who, along with State Rep. John Hostettler, is challenging Coats in the Republican primary, said Indiana doesn't need another establishment candidate.

"I think it's important for us as Republicans to elect somebody who contrasts Sen. Bayh," Stutzman said. "We know that Bayh is vulnerable, but I think we need to elect somebody who's going to make a stark contrast between what we have now and who we want to send to Washington."

Coats' spokesman Kevin Kellems didn't address Stutzman' criticism, but said Democrats are just trying to knock him out of the race before his campaign can gain momentum.

"The Democrats in Washington, particularly the young, I call them the munchkins, are throwing every bit of mud they can come up with," he said. "That clearly indicates that they're scared."

Still, other neutral observers question that approach, and said they don't think Coats merits such a strong reaction.

"My reading is that Coats is not a particularly strong candidate," said Butler University history professor George Geib. "He's been away from the Senate for 12 years. The connections and the fundraising sources that would have made him an awesome power had he chosen to run against Bayh in 1998 are just not there."

Candidates must collect at least 500 signatures from registered voters in each of the state's nine congressional districts by Feb. 16 to get on the primary ballot. A state Election Board report on Monday showed no certified signatures yet for Coats.