LA Senate race in today's Daily Kos

[AnnInLa]

www.dailykos.com

LA-Sen: Rough patch ahead
by kos
Mon Oct 25th, 2004 at 04:59:09 GMT

I've gotten reliable word that the Senate race in Louisiana is looking bleaker, with Republican David Vitter threatening to break the 50 percent mark, negating the need for a December runoff.

The DSCC's obvious strategy has been to plan for the runoff. With three Democrats in the race, it seemed logical that the race would be decided in a month-long November campaign. But a tracking poll for the race shows Vitter edging into the upper 40s.

Of course, just a year ago, Republican Bobby Jindal had a double-digit lead but lost to Democrat Kathleen Blanco. But the momentum was with Blanco. It's with Vitter today.

The irony is that Vitter dropped out of that governor's race last year because of an affair with a prostitute and has an illegitimate child with another woman. No big scoop -- this is all out in the open and well-known in the state, yet Vitter is still running on a "family values" platform and obviously getting away with it.

The NRSC is obviously working hard for a November victory. It has thrown almost $1 million into the race for the last two weeks on advertising alone. The DSCC is also up to saturation levels for the last week.

The moral of the story? GOTV. The Louisiana Democratic Party has shown an ability to win the most unwinable races. But we can't take anything for granted.

Senate Elections 2004 :: Link & Discuss (34 comments)

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[Bombtrack]

1. Is negative advirtising between the dems helping him?

[JaneDoughnut]

2. Don't think so...

In Shreveport, the only negative ads I've seen have been DNC funded attacking Vitter or RNC funded attacking Chris John. The Dems have not been attacking each other.

I am a little perplexed about what to do in the primaries myself. I decided to support Morrell, because he's the only truly progressive candidate running, but historically, African Americans don't have much of a shot at a statewide election in Louisiana. But if I were to support the Dem frontrunner (Chris John, it looks like), it would simply be me being partisan. I never used to be partisan! What has happened to me?!?

[Hippo_Tron]

3. Morrell or Kennedy now, John in the runoff (if he gets there)...

John is somewhat of a DINO and definately not a progressive. He gets my vote in the runoff because I want the dems to take the senate and because I hate Vitter, but I'll vote for Morrell or Kennedy in the first election. I like Morrell the best, but if it appears that Kennedy has a good shot of making it into the runoff, then I'll vote for him because I'd rather him than John.

[ThePhilosopher04]

4. I'm supporting John because he is the only Dem with a chance...

to beat Vitter. I think Morrell is closer to my political views and Kennedy is somewhere in between, but John has the best chance.

Normally, I would vote in line with my beliefs but I think the greater good would be served by keeping a Dem in the U.S. Senate.