Louisiana Senate Ad Wars Rage On
Let the mud slinging begin!
Even with the DSCC’s withdrawal of their $1.8 million ad buy for Mary Landrieu, the bayou state continues to be inundated with campaign ads.
Greg Giroux of Bloomberg Politics highlighted two ads. The first, an ad by Freedom Partners Action Fund. Funded by the Koch brothers, Freedom Partners takes aim at Landrieu’s campaign contributions that have benefited the anti-energy crowd and worked against Louisiana’s economic intersts:
The second is an ad released Sunday by Landrieu’s campaign. Giroux explains:
Landrieu introduced an ad Sunday that makes Cassidy look bumbling as it accuses him of voting to “cut Social Security benefits.” It refers to Cassidy’s vote in April for a budget blueprint by the Republican Study Committee, a group of anti-spending lawmakers, that would balance the budget in four years rather than the 10 called for under a proposal by Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan. The RSC plan failed on a 133-291 vote.
Ironically, the ad that tries to portray Cassidy as “incoherent” is itself, incoherent. Take a look:
Landrieu has made her “clout” in the Senate a major part of her re-election bid. But after the balance of power shifted back to Republicans last week, whatever clout she had won’t be of much use to her.
It’s also unlikely that she’ll retain her chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
To make matters worse, the Democratic base is not likely to be motivated to turn out for a runoff election. Had the midterms been closer and the balance of power in the Senate still up for grabs, that would’ve worked in Landrieu’s favor. Now she’ll be forced to rely on die-hard supporters to show up and cast their votes to re-elect her. She’s also contending with the fact that she barely scraped out more votes Cassidy last week (just over a point more.)
Turnout was slightly lower last week than in 2012 in the Democratic strongholds that help her most, like Orleans parish.
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Comments
I wonder what the weather forecast for next week is like for LA? If they are going to be cold like up here then that may drive down turnout as well.
The election isn’t till December 6.
“She’s also contending with the fact that she barely scraped out more votes Cassidy last week (just over a point more.)”
What she is really contending with is she received almost all of the Democrat votes in the primary and only had 1 point over Cassidy while other Republican candidates sucked off almost 15 points from Cassidy’s total.
Cassidy should win easily.
Maness, to his credit, appeared with Cassidy and offered his enthusiastic endorsement and support.
It would have been even better a month ago, though.
Cassidy, should have a major advantage. However don’t takehis victory for granted. That is the best way to lose.
I’m still willing to help Mary out with a free script for a campaign commercial. And unlike her current incoherent commercials, the one I’m offering her is easy for voters to understand, and has the added benefit of being true:
“Hi Louisiana voters, I’m Mary Landrieu and I’m running for the U.S. Senate. As I said recently in an interview, I think you people are all a bunch of racists and sexists. In fact, I find Louisianans so repulsive that I don’t even own a home in the state. I prefer to live in my exclusive neighborhood in Washington, D.C., where I can hobnob with all the other elitists who feel the same way I do about you backwards hicks in Louisiana. So please vote for me to be your Senator, because I really don’t want to have to move out of my expensive mansion in Washington, D.C., and live among you hateful bigots in Louisiana! I’m Mary Landrieu and I approved this message.”
Rob Maness endorsed Cassidy at a unity rally today. Rand Paul was there. So were Senator David Vitter, Gov. Bobby Jindal and state Sen. Elbert Guillory.
Landieu should be toast. There were eight names on the ballot, four Democrats, three Republicans and a Libertarian. The four Democrats combined for only 43.43% of the vote. The three Republicans combined for 56.68.
Well done, @Observer, well done.
Republicans should take nothing for granted. The only chance for Landrieu is a close election that can be stolen in New Orleans. As the Blogfather says, ‘If it isn’t close, they can’t cheat.’
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‘It’s also unlikely that she’ll retain her chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.’
Since the Chairman comes from the Majority, it is indeed unlikely.