Race of the day: David Vitter vs. Charlie Melancon for Senate (LA)

Name & Party:

DEMOCRAT

Charlie Melançon

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

REPUBLICAN

David Vitter

Basic Info:U.S. Rep. since 2005;

Age: 62One-term incumbent;

Age: 49

Issues:

• Voted for stimulus package
• Voted against health care reform bill
• Opposes Obama's ban on deepwater drilling
• Vigorously opposed stimulus
• Wants to repeal health reform
• Opposes Obama's ban on deepwater drilling

Polling At:36%51%Campaign Chest:$2.2 million$5.4 million

Key Quote:"I'm a pro-life, pro-gun, Southern Democrat."

"Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God."

Petty Controversy:An aide arrested for attacking his girlfriend stayed on Vitter's staff until ABC News reported the storyProvoked outrage by telling victims of a local Ponzi scheme they "should maybe have known better"Wild card:This will be the first election for Vitter since 2007, when he was linked to prostitutes in Washington and New Orleans, primarily dating back to the 1990s.Dueling Ads:"Forgotten Crimes": This Melançon ad revisits Vitter's prostitution scandal and asks why there were no legal consequences"Luvfest": Vitter charges that Melançon is "cashing in big-time" after backing Obama and his "liberal agenda"

Charlie Melançon's "Truth":

David Vitter's "Luvfest":