LA-SEN

Vitter Easily Trounces GOP Primary Challenger

Eric Kleefeld | August 28, 2010, 9:58PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), the family values conservative who became embroiled in a prostitution scandal in 2007, has just won his Republican primary tonight, easily fending off a late challenge from former state Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor.

With 23% of precincts reporting, Vitter leads Traylor by a margin of 88%-8%, and has been projected as the winner by the Associated Press.

Traylor had called upon Republican voters to "man up" and ditch Vitter, citing such reasons as the prostitution scandal and his having kept an aide on his staff who allegedly attacked his girlfriend with a knife. But no such luck for Traylor.

Vitter now proceeds to the general election against Democratic Rep. Charlie Melancon. The TPM Poll Average shows Vitter leading Melancon by 46.6%-34.0%.

LA-SEN

Traylor 'Lied To,' Vitter Cruising To Primary Win This Weekend

Brian Beutler | August 26, 2010, 1:08PM

Senate candidate Chet Traylor (R-LA) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) was always expected to win the Republican Senate nomination last year. But even political veterans in the pelican state turned their heads when, at the last minute, Vitter got a primary challenger from a well-connected Republican, former Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor.

But Traylor's campaign never materialized. Worse, he's being trounced in polls leading into Saturday's primary. And according to at least one Louisiana insider, it's because his own allies abandoned him.

Read more »

LA-SEN

Poll: Vitter Leads Melancon By 10

Brian Beutler | August 25, 2010, 8:43AM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) and Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA)

New Louisiana polling data to be released later today shows David Vitter maintaining a double digit lead over his likely rival, Rep. Charlie Melancon, and benefiting from the fact that the electorate there remains largely in the dark about his scandals.

Public Policy Polling surveyed 403 likely voters from August 21-22 and found that, in a two way race, 41 percent now say they'd vote for Melancon, 51 would choose Vitter, and 8 percent remain undecided. The latest TPM PollTracker average gives Vitter a nearly 13 point margin over Melancon. In June, PPP found Vitter ahead 46-37. As of now there are multiple third party candidates in the race. The winner must receive a plurality of the votes.

Read more »

LA-SEN

Traylor Radio Ad Calls On Republicans To 'Man Up' And Reject Vitter (AUDIO)

Brian Beutler | August 18, 2010, 2:29PM

Senate candidate Chet Traylor (R-LA) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

A source sent over the audio of a brutal ad running on Louisiana radio. The one-minute segment, paid for by Republican Senate hopeful Chet Traylor, calls on voters to "man up" and oppose David Vitter, citing his long record of public scandals over the years.

"Why is Congress so corrupt? David Vitter, he's part of the corruption," the ad's narrator says.

Now it's time to man up. A judge found Vitter committed battery on a woman. It was an unprovoked attack. Next, Vitter's notorious scandal with the DC Madam. She ran an escort service for powerful men in Washington, if you know what I mean. Then a former prostitute said she, well, serviced Vitter on numerous occasions in New Orleans. That's family values, right? Now, Vitter's Senate aide for women affairs holds his girlfriend hostage while slashing her face with a knife. Vitter didn't fire the aide. Vitter gave him two more years on his public payroll. Some conservative, huh? Hey Vitter. What's next? Republicans, it's time to man up for change.

Read more »

LA-SEN

Vitter Struggles In Primary Campaign -- If Voters Know About His Scandals

Brian Beutler | August 17, 2010, 2:30PM

Senate candidate Chet Traylor (R-LA) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

A new poll out of Louisiana finds that David Vitter could be forced into a runoff against his main primary rival, former state Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor, if voters are kept aware of Vitter's scandalous past.

The survey, conducted by the Market Research Institute, finds Vitter leading the pack of Republican hopefuls with 46 percent support, followed by Traylor with 34 percent, and 21 percent undecided. Vitter would have to secure more than 51 percent of the votes in the August 28 primary to avoid a runoff.

The poll was conducted on behalf of Traylor's campaign and the results reflect voter opinion after being reminded of Vitter's connection to the D.C. madam prostitution scandal. Vitter, according to the poll, has similar numbers when voters are informed that Vitter employed aide Brent Furer for roughly two years after Furer was arrested for violently assaulting his girlfriend.

Read more »

Charlie Melancon

Melancon's First TV Ad: 'David Vitter Hasn't Been Honest With Louisiana' (VIDEO)

Megan Carpentier | August 11, 2010, 10:21AM

Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) spent $115,000 on his first television advertising buy in his effort to unseat incumbent Sen. David Vitter (R). In the advertisement, Melancon touts his own conservative credentials, but pulls no punches when it comes to Vitter.

Read more »

LA-SEN

Traylor: Reporters Know Better Than Me What The Next Vitter Scandal Is (VIDEO)

Megan Carpentier | August 10, 2010, 8:50AM

Judge Chet Traylor appearing on the Washington Post/ABC News program "Top Line."

Chet Traylor, the Republican primary challenger to Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), appeared on the Washington Post/ABC News program "Top Line" yesterday in his first-ever television interview in support of his nascent campaign. And although the hosts tried hard to get him to tell them what the rumored newest scandal Vitter might face, Traylor was having none of it.

"Rick, the only thing I can tell is what the people have been telling me: that they want a viable alternative to vote for in this upcoming primary," he said. He added, "You guys are the ones who have been reporting the problems, and I'm sure that you all are keeping up with that a whole lot closer than I am."

Read more »

David Vitter

Vitter Accuses Primary Opponent Of Being Secret Democrat

Brian Beutler | August 6, 2010, 3:02PM

Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

Well, that didn't take long.

With the news out that David Vitter's primary challenger, former Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor, is ready to rumble, Vitter's taking a preemptive swing...by trying to convince voters that Traylor is secretly a Democrat.

"Nearly a week ago, my so-called Republican opponent was spotted meeting with two former Democrat elected officials and current trial lawyers in North Louisiana," reads an email Vitter sent to supporters.

Read more »

LA-SEN

Vitter Challenger (Finally) Gathers A War Chest

Brian Beutler | August 6, 2010, 1:55PM

Senate candidate Chet Traylor (R-LA) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

Louisiana Senate hopeful Chet Traylor is finally ready to start taking a few swings at incumbent David Vitter, just ahead of their August 28 primary.

Traylor, according to his campaign chief Roy Fletcher, will have at least $500,000 on hand by Sunday, when the current fundraising period ends.

But that leaves him precious little time to close an enormous gap in the polls. Traylor, a business-connected conservative and former Louisiana Supreme Court justice, entered the primary at the last possible moment, prompting speculation that Vitter may have a fight on his hands.

Read more »

Chet Traylor

LA Paper Endorses Traylor, Will Not 'Repeat Allegations' Of More Vitter Scandals

Brian Beutler | July 21, 2010, 2:06PM

Senate candidate Chet Traylor (R-LA) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

A rural newspaper in Louisiana has endorsed Chet Traylor -- rival to Sen. David Vitter in the Louisiana Republican primary -- to win the party's nomination. And in so doing they casually raise the possibility that there are more Vitter scandals yet to be exposed.

"It is not our intention to revisit Vitter's mistakes as a means to follow the lead of the out-of-touch media elite in condemning Vitter at every turn," write the editors of the Concordia Sentinel. "We will not engage in a rumor mongering campaign either by repeating allegations that another "scandal" involving Vitter's personal life will surface soon."

How's that for subtlety?

Read more »

David Vitter

Louisiana Republicans To Choose Between Two Family Values Conservatives

Brian Beutler | July 20, 2010, 1:06PM

Senate candidate Chet Traylor (R-LA) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

If you're a political candidate, sleeping with your estranged stepson's estranged wife, it's helpful if you can fall back on an excuse like "well, at least she's not one of several prostitutes."

And, indeed, that's the fallback position Chet Traylor is left with today, only a month to go before Louisiana Republicans will face the decision of whether Traylor or incumbent Senator David Vitter will be the GOP candidate in November. The Springer-esque details are laid out in a News Star article today and, while they certainly harm Traylor's reputation as a scandal-free alternative to Vitter, they don't involve prostitutes, or knife attacks against women. So, there's that.

The time line is as follows:

Read more »

LA-SEN

Cook Report Downgrades Vitter's Louisiana Senate Race To 'Lean Republican'

Eric Kleefeld | July 15, 2010, 2:49PM

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)

The Cook Report has now changed its rating in the Louisiana Senate race, where Republican Sen. David Vitter is seeking a second term, from "Likely Republican" to the less safe "Lean Republican."

The Cook Report cites three factors that could drag Vitter down a bit: His tough job balancing the needs of Gulf Coast recovery with the needs of the oil and gas industry in the BP spill; his mishandling of a case involving a staffer who resigned in June after ABC News reported that he had assaulted an ex-girlfriend in 2008; and the fact that Vitter has now attracted a primary challenger, former state Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor. That primary is August 28.

In a less hospitable political climate for Republicans, these three events might combine to render Vitter extremely vulnerable, even in Louisiana. However, Vitter is not without his strengths and he does get to run on friendly terrain. We'll keep a close watch on this to see whether any or all of the recent events have an impact, but for now it seems this race no longer belongs in the Likely Republican column, so it is moving to Lean Republican.

Read more »

David Vitter

Jindal Neutral In Louisiana GOP Senate Primary

Brian Beutler | July 14, 2010, 2:39PM

Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

Looks like Governor Bobby Jindal is staying out of the Louisiana GOP Senate Primary. In a statement, his spokesman Kyle Plotkin says, "Right now, the Governor is focused on fighting the oil spill and working to lift the moratorium. There will be time to discuss endorsements in the coming months."

Emphasis on the word "months," plural. Asked whether that implies Jindal won't make any political endorsements until after the primary, his staff reiterated the same comment. That takes us past the August 28th primary, and into the general election campaign, when Jindal will surely endorse whomever wins the Republican nomination.

In the meantime, it seems, he'll let Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) fight it out with his new, and formidable, primary challenger, former Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor.

Read more »

David Vitter

Conservative Women's Groups Mum On Vitter Scandal

Brian Beutler | July 12, 2010, 10:27AM

Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

It seems like everyone has an opinion about David Vitter these days. Dems want him ousted from the Senate; Louisiana Republicans are divided on that question. Reporters just wish he'd take their questions. But there's one demographic that has been studiously silent about Vitter ever since his prostitution scandal gave way to the scandal over his sheltering an aide who violently attacked his girlfriend: conservative women's groups.

Last week, TPM reached out to several conservative women's organizations, both on the national level and in the state of Louisiana, for comment on Vitter's actions. Few of them responded at all.

Read more »

David Vitter

Vitter Gets A Serious Last Minute Primary Challenger

Brian Beutler | July 9, 2010, 7:05PM

Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

There are no shortage of conservatives in Louisiana who'd like to retire David Vitter. But late this afternoon, one prominent Republican decided to make a go of it, entering the race at the last possible moment to take on the scandal-plagued senator in the GOP primary this August.

Meet Chet Traylor, a former Louisiana Supreme Court Justice well-connected in Louisiana Republican political and business circles circles, who surprised everyone this afternoon by qualifying at the witching hour to challenge Vitter.

Vitter has plenty of money in the bank and, with just weeks to go, time on his side. But Traylor could catch up quickly.

Read more »