As reported last week, U.S. Congressman Charlie Melancon (D-Napoleonville) is taking a fresh look at the U.S. Senate race in 2010. Previously, he expressed reservations about entering the contest, but things have changed in the last few weeks.
Republicans have been increasing their efforts to lure a well funded and strong opponent into a campaign against Melancon next year. Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere predicted that the Republicans would find a formidable challenger to oppose Melancon. State Representative Nickie Monica (R-LaPlace) has already indicated his interest in challenging Melancon. He has engaged in serious discussions with the National Republican Congressional Committee and has met with potential donors. Also former House Speaker Hunt Downer of Houma is looking at the race. Downer ran for Governor in 2003 and served for many years in the Louisiana Legislature. If Downer or Monica runs, Melancon would have a real fight on his hands just to win re-election.
Facing a potentially tough re-election battle, Melancon has been looking at the Senate race with more interest. He may have a chance of defeating Senator Vitter in a statewide race than in winning re-election. Melancon promised a final decision within a few weeks. If Melancon runs, Louisiana Democrats would be overjoyed as many state party leaders have been trying for months to lure the Congressman into the race.
While Melancon contemplates his political future, Shaw Group CEO Jim Bernhard and former U.S. Congressman Chris John are also considering a U.S. Senate run. State Democratic Party Chairman Chris Whittington promised to have a candidate in place by August.
On the Republican side, Republican Secretary of State Jay Dardenne and retiring State Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor are both contemplating the race. Former U.S. Congressman John Cooksey and former State Elections Commissioner Suzanne Haik Terrell both declined a chance to challenge Vitter and they have endorsed the Senator for re-election.
Of all the potential challengers to David Vitter, no one is more of an unusual candidate than adult film actress Stormy Daniels. She is preparing for the second leg of her “listening tour” of Louisiana. Several weeks ago, she addressed members of the press and met with the public at stops in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. For her next tour, she will visit spots in the “western and northern parts of the state,” according to Brian Welsh, a New Orleans based consultant who has been serving as an advisor to Daniels. Welsh predicted that Daniels would return to Louisiana in “late June or early July.” Currently, she is working on her memoirs, which will be titled “Storm Blazer: Stormy Daniels and the Issues of Responsibility”
Her book will include a strong focus on what Daniels calls her “Contract of Responsibility.” She believes that taking personal responsibility is a method to reduce government involvement in the lives of Americans. Although Welsh noted that Daniels has a “libertarian streak,” she is a registered Democrat. He said she may change her party registration later on this year if she officially enters the race for U.S. Senate. Welsh promised that Daniels would make a formal decision on the race “by the end of the summer.”
Jeff Crouere is the Host of “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. He is the Political Analyst for WGNO-TV ABC26 and a Columnist for selected publications. For more information, visit his web site at RingsidePolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.
Listen tomorrow (Tuesday) as on WGSO 990 AM at 8:30 a.m. on http://www.wgso.com as Jeff Crouere and Publisher Stephen Sabludowsky discuss the issues of the day.
