However, the Republicans have decided to hold their collective noses and go with the person they believe can hold that seat.  He might have been un-chaired except he found a new running mate in Barack Obama.

Since Obama took office, Vitter has been one of the President’s major antagonists.  Being an antagonist is one of the things that Senator Vitter does best since we know exactly what he is against, but, rarely know what he stands for or who he really is.  Although he said he told us about his past, almost anyone listening knows he is not telling the truth.

Still, despite his ugly warts, he is the odds-on favorite to be the next US Senator in a ultra-conservative state Louisiana.  This is the same state that put David Duke on the map and if they can be stupid enough to vote for the Grand Wizard, they will vote for the Grand Lizzard, in Vitter.

Vitter is favored to win because Obama won and because his opponent Charlie Melancon cannot find his way to the hearts and minds of the voters.

To his credit, Vitter has faced a friendly audience denouncing Obama-style health care reform.  Not that it took much courage for Vitter to stand up in front of a drooling audience and initially screen questions and then later just say “I agree” to voters who are willing to believe every conspiracy theory they can grab if it involves the current President.  It would have really taken guts to stand up in Court and tell the truth or stand up to the people of Louisiana and field questions from the media who disputes his claims that he only engaged in a horrible sin once. 

Nonetheless, the Republican party wants a winner despite the fact that Vitter’s victory violates the major tenet of “family values”,  that is valuing your own family.   The GOP is willing to sell their souls as long as it means bringing down those  “devils” Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

Yet, to the extent that David Vitter had a great August due to the health care hysteria, Charlie Melancon had a horrible month despite using the Internet to announce his candidacy.

Melancon did not face a crowd of cheering possible voters when he made that announcement.  Nor did he face a hostile crowd to field questions about health care as did Mary Landrieu and to some extent Congressman Cao of New Orleans. 

The revelations that he took a trip with his wife on the tax payer dime to Way Under was over the top.  The fact that he recently was seen in public at Martha’s Vinyard-- a perceived wealthy democrat and lobbyist retreat is not the message a candidate wants to build up steam. 

Also, Vitter and the Louisiana Republican Party and conservative blogs are eating Melancon’s lunch right now.   Vitter just sent out an email with a cartoon video that showed a wobbly Melancon side to side by a wobbly Obama is priceless.  Meanwhile, the Democratic Party sits on the sidelines as does its candidate.

If Melancon is playing the rope a dope, the dope is him.  There are a lot of things that Vitter is not, but, one thing he is--a political survivor and a tough campaigner.  He might not have done much to help Louisiana survive from the storm, but, he has kept his own political tail.  If Melancon keeps playing “out of sight”, he will be “out of mind” and out of office. 

It is true that Melancon is getting his team together.  But, unless he starts connecting with the voters with public appearances debunking that he is a “liberal” and proving he is a blue-dog moderate, this race is in the can. 

Current Governor Jindal took off from his Congressional duties after he won his second campaign as Congressman and cast a handful of votes during the entire period.  He also spent a tremendous amount of time travelling throughout Louisiana actually campaigning for Governor while he was campaigning for Congress. 

Melancon must say goodbye to his Congressional chores and start meeting the Boudreaux’s in this state.  He failed to do it in August of 2009 when his courage was on the line.  At some time, he is going to have to face the public and it better not be in a canned Internet or TV spot or else he is toast as a candidate for US Senate.

New Orleans Election

We are soon to hear the fate of Arnie Fielkow who has promised us that he would make up his mind about his future after Labor day.  He has been laboring over this issue now for weeks.  There is no doubt that John Georges is running and can fund his own campaign.  Georges did well in New Orleans against Jindal.  Fielkow has the name appeal and has acted like a candidate for something other than New Orleans City Councilman.    I believe that Fielkow wants to be mayor.  The key question is whether there is enough money on the street to edge out Georges in a runoff against the leading African American candidate.  Right now, everybody’s campaign is on hold until the world knows what Arnie is going to do.  Should he enter the Mayoral ring after the Jerry Lewis telethon, he is going to have to make many calls for bucks in order to buck the man who can write his own campaign check.  Fielkow has overcome major obstacles before.  He just needs to tell us if he is ready for this one. 

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