2008 Senate Race

The 2007 state elections haven’t even come to pass yet, but the 2008 Senate race for the seat held currently by Mary Landrieu is heating up. After the Democratic Party took control of Congress in the 2006 midterm elections, the Republican Party seems to be desperate enough to even look at a Democrat with strong conservative leanings to take her place. Recently Karl Rove aka Turdblossom contacted State Treasurer John Kennedy who is currently a Democrat. Rumors abound suggesting that Kennedy might be considering a switch to the Republican Party. What is it with legislators who can’t pick a party and stick with it? But I digress …

Kennedy refuses to comment about what was said at the meeting.

Strangely enough, although Rove talked with a current Democrat about the Senate seat, Republican Secretary of State Jay Dardenne hasn’t spoken with Rove. Now Rove isn’t an idiot – corrupt, yes; an unethical and immoral bastard, of course – but he’s certainly not stupid. A moderate Democrat with conservative leanings might be the only way to unseat Landrieu. Then again, a moderate Democrat with conservative leanings can also be used to describe Landrieu herself. But Kennedy would have an extra appeal: moderate Democrats would be attracted to him based on his past history in the party, and Republicans would be attracted to him due to his conservative leanings and possible jump to the Republican Party.

No challengers have announced yet, but this seat is certainly vulnerable. The biggest problem might just be that post-Katrina, many Democratic voters have probably left the state when New Orleans was devastated.

Although Louisiana tends to vote Republican for the Presidential elections, it tends to be a toss-up in state races. The senate seats however have traditionally gone Democratic, with David Vitter being the first Republican elected to the Senate since Reconstruction. Landrieu has tremendous name recognition within the state, far more than any likely Republican (or Democratic) challenger. While I bet she will win re-election again with a slight margin, I don’t see any challenger that can effectively campaign against her at the moment. This is certainly a race to watch.