Thread: GOP's Vitter seeks redemption, come from behind win in Louisiana governor's race

GOP's Vitter seeks redemption, come from behind win in Louisiana governor's race

Published November 21, 2015

Louisiana GOP Sen. David Vitter is trying Saturday to win the state governor’s race and help his party keep its stronghold on state politics, but he trails his lesser-known Democratic challenger in a contest highlighted by scandal, big money and now the Syria refugee crisis.

Vitter entered the race as the early favorite amid a field of lesser known and lesser funded candidates, including state Democratic Rep. John Bel Edwards, whom he faces in Saturday’s runoff election.

However, after months of attacks, include those about his 2007 prostitution scandal, Vitter barely defeated his two Republican challengers in last month’s open primary and finished second behind Edwards by roughly 14 percentage points.

The top-two finishers compete in Saturday’s runoff because Edwards failed to win 50 percent of the vote.

To be sure, Democrats didn’t expect to win the Louisiana governorship, considering Republicans now control every governorship and state legislature in the Deep South.

And when Vitter entered the race in January 2014 as the frontrunner, he was pulling in tremendous sums of campaign cash and firing up a dominant political machine that he's used to get himself and his allies regularly elected to Louisiana offices.

But the race ultimately shifted to a referendum on Vitter, particularly his 2007 prostitution scandal, in which he apologized for a "serious sin" after he was linked through phone records to Washington's "D.C. Madam."

He's also faced criticism for his campaign tactics, and he's been unable to unify GOP support, which has also hurt his fundraising during the runoff.

Vitter supporters say the two-term senator has been hampered by the unpopularity of outgoing Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is leaving behind a $487 million deficit. Jindal, who this week dropped his 2016 presidential bid, is leaving the governor's office because of term limits.

Still, Vitter and his supporters remain optimistic, despite most polls showing Vitter trailing by double digits going into Election Day.

They cite the recent Kentucky governor's race in which Republican Matt Bevin won despite polls showing him lagging his Democratic opponent.

"I feel conservative support building every day," Vitter said.

The race has also been a slugfest of attack ads and one of the most expensive governor's races in Louisiana history, with at least $30 million spent by candidates and outside groups.

Edwards, who began his gubernatorial bid as a little-known lawmaker from rural Tangipahoa Parish, responded to the spike in Vitter's disapproval ratings with a campaign built on personal integrity, a resume that includes a West Point degree and a tenure as an Army Ranger, and pledges that he'd run a moderate administration built on bipartisanship.

"This election is too critical. The stakes are too high. We cannot have someone who comes from a dysfunctional Washington political environment," Edwards said.

If elected, Edwards would be the first Democrat elected statewide since 2008 in a state that favors Republicans in those races.

Vitter has tried to tie Edwards to President Obama, who is unpopular in the conservative state. This week, he's ramped up the effort, using the Paris terrorist attacks and the national debate over Syrian refugee resettlement to claim that Edwards would help Obama bring a flood of refugees to Louisiana, which received 14 so far, according to federal figures.

Vitter and Edwards have said Louisiana should block the refugees from entering the state, saying they pose a public safety risk. Edwards has responded to Vitter's claims by calling him a desperate liar, in a race where the two men don't hide their mutual disdain.

In the last debate ahead of the Saturday election, Edwards described Vitter as lacking a "moral compass" and called him a "hypocrite." Vitter said Edwards can't be trusted and would choose Obama over the people of Louisiana.

Vitter traveled Saturday across the state to get-out-the-vote events. Edwards was making similar efforts and was also encouraging voters via social media.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015...l?intcmp=hpbt2

Way to go Bobby! You and your deficits and silly belief that you should run for President may have cost the Republican Party a victory in Louisiana. I hope Vitter can overcome your bad governance.

Originally Posted by Judy

Way to go Bobby! You and your deficits and silly belief that you should run for President may have cost the Republican Party a victory in Louisiana. I hope Vitter can overcome your bad governance.

I'm hopeful those voting for the other two Republican challengers will swing over to Vitters now that he is the only Republican game in town. I'd say things don't look that bad considering the Dem didn't receive the 50% of votes he needed for the win.

Originally Posted by MW

I'm hopeful those voting for the other two Republican challengers will swing over to Vitters now that he is the only Republican game in town. I'd say things don't look that bad considering the Dem didn't receive the 50% of votes he needed for the win.

I sure hope you're right, MW. I really like Vitter and will miss him in the US Senate if he wins, but he'll be a great Governor for Louisiana. The run-off is today and the polls closed in Louisiana at 8 pm their time, so there should be some news forthcoming on the election shortly. I'll google and see what I can find.

Polls have closed but no news on results yet. Keep an eye out, all the press seem to be pushing Vitter's opponents.

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.s...sults_201.html

Edwards declared the winner over Vitter, Edwards at 55% to Vitter at 45%, 54% precincts reporting. It will probably tighten up when the rest of the precincts come in, but probably not by enough to change things.

Damn. Well, does this mean Vitter stays in the Senate? I hope so. It appears that he does and will have to run for re-election in 2016. Hope he wins that one.

Louisiana gubernatorial candidate Sen. David Vitter, R-La., failed to win election as Louisiana's next governor Saturday night. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)





Vitter loses to Dem in La. governor race



By CURT MILLS (@CURTMILLS)

•

11/21/15 11:01 PM


Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana was defeated Saturday night in his bid to become governor of his state by State Rep. John Bel Edwards.

With almost 90 percent of precincts reporting, Bel Edwards was leading Vitter 54-46, and was declared the winner.

Vitter also announced Saturday that he will now decline to run for reelection to the Senate next fall.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/vi...rticle/2576921

Originally Posted by MW

Louisiana gubernatorial candidate Sen. David Vitter, R-La., failed to win election as Louisiana's next governor Saturday night. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)





Vitter loses to Dem in La. governor race



By CURT MILLS (@CURTMILLS)

•

11/21/15 11:01 PM


Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana was defeated Saturday night in his bid to become governor of his state by State Rep. John Bel Edwards.

With almost 90 percent of precincts reporting, Bel Edwards was leading Vitter 54-46, and was declared the winner.

Vitter also announced Saturday that he will now decline to run for reelection to the Senate next fall.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/vi...rticle/2576921

This bites!

Originally Posted by MW

This bites!

It sure does. Damn. Well, that's not only a great loss for Louisiana, it's a great loss for America.

I hope Vitter does stay in the US Senate considering ALIPAC has a standing endorsement up for him on the federal level.

http://www.alipac.us/f8/14-us-senate...am-act-202486/

W