Louisiana’s leading Senate candidates gathered last night for their first scheduled debate in Houma, LA. Well, one of them gathered. Front-runner David Vitter (R) didn’t show.
Instead of joining his Democratic rival Charlie Melancon for an hour-plus long, unscripted Q&A, Vitter skipped the session entirely, according to tracker footage taken by the Louisiana Democratic party, headed to an event for Republicans only in Kenner, some 50 miles away.
Vitter hadn’t indicated one way or another whether he’d attend the event, but most observers, including the Democratic party, expected him to duck it.
That meant an plenty of face time on state television for Melancon, while Vitter caroused.
Video below.
Brian Beutler
Brian Beutler is TPM's senior congressional reporter. Since 2009, he's led coverage of health care reform, Wall Street reform, taxes, the GOP budget, the government shutdown fight, and the debt limit fight. He can be reached at brian@talkingpointsmemo.com.
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