Posted on 11/09/2012 12:57:36 PM PST by abb
BATON ROUGE — After carrying nearly 80 percent of the vote in an expanded district and with close to $2 million still in the bank, U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy has become slightly more candid about potentially challenging Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu.
“What American who loves their country wouldn't want to run for the U.S. Senate? And we certainly need some help in the Senate,” said Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge.
Cassidy first ran for office in 2006, transforming a state Senate seat into a successful congressional bid in the span of 23 months.
He said the U.S. Senate could possibly be his next stop, should voters continue to support him.
“We're going to go around the state and speak to supporters to see if there's an appetite for the idea,” Cassidy said.
The fact that rumors have persisted for months that he'll challenge Louisiana's senior senator is “proof that there's dissatisfaction with the status quo,” Cassidy said.
What remains to be seen is whether other Republicans, like Gov. Bobby Jindal or another congressman, might want the Senate job as well.
In that regard, it's notable that Timmy Teepell, Jindal's chief political advisor, managed Cassidy's campaign this year, despite only token opposition on the ballot.
After being sworn in during a January ceremony, Cassidy will begin his third term representing the 6th Congressional District.
Because of last year's redistricting process, the 6th includes northern Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.
The local district also encompasses all of Livingston and Pointe Coupee parishes and portions of Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. John the Baptist and West Baton Rouge parishes.
Landrieu, who served as a state legislator and treasurer before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, is up for re-election in 2014.
Earlier this year following an address to the Baton Rouge Press Club, Landrieu said she would “definitely” seek another term, adding that her polling numbers were “moving in the right direction.”
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, represents southern Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes in the 1st Congressional District, and he also has goals related to a position for the next term.
Scalise said he is seeking the chairmanship of the Republican Study Committee, which is equal parts Republican think tank and conservative brain trust.
For example, the study committee usually presents its own version of the federal budget each year.
“It's currently the largest caucus in Congress with over 160 members,” Scalise said.
This term, Scalise has been serving as vice chairman of recruitment for the National Republican Congressional Committee, traveling across the country to find GOP candidates to either take down Democrats or replace outgoing Republicans.
The 1st Congressional District also includes the parishes of Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany, as well as portions of Jefferson, Orleans and Tangipahoa parishes.
Jeremy Alford can be reached jeremy@jeremyalford.com.
What would it take to talk Allen West into moving to Louisiana and setting up residence?
Pick you favorite DIRTBAG US Senator to take for next time:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?Class=2
“Time to regroup and take some of the other side out.”
I agree. Let’s do it! I’m tired of beating up on our guys while the liberal pukes get a pass.
I am ready....let’s roll. Waiting to hear from conservatives in la. As to who is the best candidate...i’ll send money....in the meantime...dog her every vote. Let her know your watching....we r coming for you.
If this guy runs, will somebody take him in a room and drill him for a couple hours on the “rape/abortion” question that destroyed Akin and Mourdock?
It’s not that difficult and it WILL be asked.
The correct response is “so you’re in favor of keeping convicted murderers alive and killing innocent pre-born children, is that right?”
Don’t bother..here in Louisiana, incumbency is King!! Once you are in, you are in. You can count on one hand how many statewide and congressional officeholders have been voted out in the last 30 years..and what makes it so damn irritating here in Louisana about landrieu is that she still gets a loyal chunk of so called gop who vote for her...when you ask them why they say she helps the oilfield..when you ask them what specifically..they look at you like a cow looks at an oncoming train..very frustrating..
Someone needs to remind him that Mary “had a little jihad” with members/groups from the moslem brotherhood in Dec 09 on St.Charles St.
I think “The Hayride” has the information.
You can sit home and bellyache if you want to, or spend all your time posting on FR telling other Louisianans to give up, it’s no use.
I ain’t.
I’m gonna do what I can to get Cassidy elected and remove Mary.
Jeff Landry should run.
Landry is in a runoff against Boustany in CD3. The talk is Boustany will win.
I’m contacting some folks around the state to check out Cassidy’s pedigree. So far, I’m getting a good response from people whose opinions I trust.
I wrote here months ago that she won’t run..she’ll retire..
With the loss of 1 House seat, the leg decided to target Landry and the new lines effectively gerrymander Landry out, though I still hope he manages an upset. It’s Boustany who should get the boot. Landry is a good Conservative, and he ought to run against Landrieu.
I expect, however, there will be enormous pressure on all Senate Dem incumbents to stay put in 2014, because there are at least 12 or 13 vulnerable seats they have to defend that we botched in winning in 2008. Landrieu and Mark Pryor in AR are especially huge targets (and in the latter case, Rep-elect Tom Cotton of the 4th appears to already have his sights on Pryor).
There isn't one GOP seat that's really at risk...
Oh, I know, but they’ll still have access to $$ simply because they’re in the majority. As for Rockefeller, he can still buy his elections. I don’t know which person we’re going to run against him at present. The problem with Rep. Shelley Moore Capito is that she’s pro-abort, and that’s not going to play well. We can’t run Raese again, that would be stupid. Perhaps Maloney, the guy who narrowly lost for Governor.
As for SD, I do believe Mike Rounds will run, but he really should’ve in 2008.
After this election..abortion will NOT be an issue...especially in WV..
If Susan Collins retires then Maine will be a problem. But otherwise all the other GOP senators are in deep red states, more so than in this year of disappointments. I think SD and AK ought to be major targets. Landrieu didn’t win by that big of a margin in ‘08 so I think she could be vulnerable. Isn’t Rockefeller in his mid 70s by now? He really should call it quits and if he does they should be able to win that. Baucus also has been around forever so I hope there is a strong candidate they might run up in MT but they seem to prefer Democrat senators for whatever reason. In any case we have to hope for a tsunami greater than 2010 to gain the 6 they’ll need to get Soiled Harry out as majority leader. Going to be very tough.
She’ll run. It’s in the family’s blood.
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