I saw it coming. I’m glad that Vitter decided not to seek reelection.
Bobby Jindal’s unpopularity was a factor in this race. However, Vitter’s scandals became more immediate when he decided to become Governor rather than Senator. Also, Edwards scored with charges that Vitter missed votes to be serviced by hookers. Those claims were devastating to Vitter. Vitter only won in 2010 by riding the backlash against Obamacaare, which swept the South and Midwest that year.
Jeff Landry’s election as state AG is a good sign and Republicans won the down-ballot races. Congressman John Fleming seems to be the best potential candidate for Senate. He’s good on immigration issues. I hope he runs and wins.
You don’t “only win” by 19 points as Vitter did over Charlie Melancon in 2010. Melancon had no chance, Obamacare or no. That happens to be our best ever performance in a LA Senate race (in a very limited sample of competitive races).
I also doubt some Edwards ad about “missing votes” is what caused Vitter to lose the large lead he had in June. IIRC polling from just before the primary showed Edwards leading the RINO candidates for the runoff as well (could be wrong). This is the state that reelected John Bel’s felon distant cousin, fast Eddie. People suddenly decided if mattered that he screwed a whore several years ago? I don’t see it, doesn’t make sense to me, that he lead this race easily before he didn’t also puts a damper on the argument that the people view Governor as fundamentally different than Senator and they don’t want that dirty birdie in the Governor’s mansion while not caring if he’s in Washington.
But even if you are correct in that assertion, I have to dispute this as a “I told ya so” moment no matter what because there was no option for real Republicans other than Vitter, the only one that ran. Certainly you can’t wish one of the traitor RINO scum had made the runoff? What would have been our prize if one of those backstabbers were elected? Seems to me they were just running interference for Edwards all along.
Anyway, the Senate, Boustany (NO!) and Fleming are both running, it looks like. Fleming isn’t to Vitter’s right, Vitter is one of the most conservative Senators, but I’ll settle for mitigating damage. Boustany was willing sell House Republican down the river for a safer seat for himself, makes me surprised he’d risk losing his post for a chance to move up.
TR mentions Rob Maness as a possible candidate. I don’t know, you know how I felt about his 2014 run, a guy with no record in office and scant resources doing nothing but assuring that Landcow would survive to a runoff.
The friggin jungle primary has GOT TO GO!! They do nothing but help dems and RINOs, with the surprising exception of Landry winning this time.