TPMDC LA-03
LA-03
Louisiana Republicans Agree: Scrap Birthright Citizenship, 17th Amendment
Tea Party activists in Washington, D.C.
At a Tea Party-sponsored debate in Louisiana last night, two House Republican hopefuls found a great deal of common ground. According to the Advocate, both support repealing the section of the 14th amendment that establishes birthright citizenship. Both would repeal the 17th amendment, which allows for direct election of U.S. Senators. Both would like to cut, and limit access to, Medicare and Social Security, and let charity organizations fill the gaps.
The two candidates -- Jeff Landry and Kristian Magar -- are vying to replace House Democrat Charlie Melancon of Louisiana's third district. They have third opponent as well: one-time Democrat, and former Louisiana House Speaker Hunt Downer, who didn't attend the debate. Downer is well liked, with broader appeal than his conservative rivals, but a recent change to Louisiana election law means that only registered Republicans can vote in the primary. And in Louisiana -- and the third district -- that's a minority of deeply conservative voters.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS (46) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Birthright citizenship, Charlie Melancon, Constitution, David Vitter, LA-03, LA-SEN, Medicare, Social Security, Tea Party
Charlie Melancon
Melancon Announces Senate Campaign Against Vitter
Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) and Rep. Charles Melancon (D-LA)
Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA), a leading Blue Dog in the House, has officially his announced his much-expected Senate campaign against Sen. David Vitter, the Republican and staunch conservative whose career became mired in the D.C. Madam prostitution scandal.
This race could end up as a top-tier battle, with lots of money and lots of attacks between the two camps. A survey from a month ago by Public Policy Polling (D) put Vitter ahead of Melancon 44%-32% -- that is, the incumbent is below 50%, and the challenger lacking in name recognition. At the same time, the Republicans could be favored to pick up Melancon's House seat, as John McCain carried it by 61%-37% in 2008.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS (8) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Charlie Melancon, David Vitter, House '10, LA-03, LA-SEN, Senate '10
LA-SEN
GOP Hopes To Pick Up House Seat If Melancon Runs For Senate
If Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) does end up running for Senate against GOP incumbent David Vitter -- pitting a relatively conservative Democrat against a Christian Right champion whose career became mired in the D.C. Madam prostitution scandal of 2007 -- it could be good news for the Republicans in at least one respect. That is, the GOP feels pretty good that they can pick up Melancon's open district.
"It is one of the few districts in the country that actually trended more Republican last cycle," a Republican source told us. The district voted 61%-37% for John McCain in 2008, up from 58%-41% for George W. Bush in 2004.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS (3) | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: House '10, LA-03, LA-SEN, Senate '10
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