It promises to be a showdown of Louisiana showdowns.
Treasurer John Kennedy has decided to take on US Senator Mary L. Landrieu.
Landrieu has been reported as being the US Senator most vulnerable in 2008. Many also believe she has been the strongest voice for Louisiana post-Katrina. John Kennedy is well respected by Republicans and Democrats in Louisiana.
Landrieu also once was Treasurer of Louisiana.
It had been hotly rumored that Kennedy would jump in the fire especially after he switched parties earlier this year.
In a statement on his website, Kennedy said, “In a little less than a year, Louisianians will go to the polls to elect our next United States Senator. In doing so, our people will decide who they want to represent our state and our values in Washington, D.C.
I want you to be the first to know that today I will take the first steps and file the necessary paperwork to run for the United States Senate in 2008. I plan to officially kick off the campaign early next year. Please know that Becky and I made this decision carefully, after much thought, prayer and discussion.
Over the next few months, I will lay the groundwork of support for an aggressive campaign that will focus on a frank discussion of the issues and how I will help move Louisiana forward working in tandem with our new reform leadership in Baton Rouge.
I also want to share with you the results of a poll I commissioned recently. The 1,000 sample “likely voters” poll conducted by Zogby International showed me leading incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu by 45% to 38% with a 3.2% margin of error. (Click here for more.)
Early support in an important race like this is essential, and you can play a significant role in building that foundation. Your financial contribution today will help us lay the groundwork for next year’s campaign, which most national observers say will be one of the highest profile and competitive U.S. Senate races in the nation. (Kennedy requests a contribution here)
I will win this election with the support of Louisianians like you. Thank you for your continued support and friendship. Thank you for giving so much to Louisiana
Norma Jane Sabiston, a senior advisor to U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., today released the following statement regarding the announcement by Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy that he intends to seek the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
"John Kennedy, the first candidate in the Republican primary field, ran ads just four weeks ago saying 'the job's not done' and asking for Louisianians' support to 'continue to be your state treasurer,'" Sabiston said. "Now, even before being sworn in, Treasurer Kennedy must think the job is done and he wants to move on. As he begins to campaign for yet another office, Senator Landrieu remains busy doing the job she was elected to do."
And just think, it is only late November 2007.More to come, for sure.
I believe anyone voting for Mary in the senate race is stuck in the past. The state has been in the control of the democate party for to long and this is the reason our state is always at the bottom. Thats why I have voted early and voted
for John Kennedy. Good Luck John. Written by RK
on 10/31/2008
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I also typically vote Republican - and would vote for Vitter over Landrieu due to his stances on legislation despite his abhorrant morals - but I too find "something" distasteful in Kennedy and will cast my ballot for Mary Landrieu. Written by kpf
on 10/10/2008
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let me first say, i am a registered republican voter. i have never voted for mary landrieu. but when i hear kennedy's non-substantive, partisan attacks on his opponent, i can't help the gag reflex that starts rising up my throat. it's very distasteful and an insult to all intelligent citizens of louisiana. he should speak about his own merits instead of leading a campaign based on attacks and judgment calls that a vote for landrieu is a vote for obama. give me a break! i don't know who he's trying to appeal to in his ads, but it's not a college-educated, middle-income republican like me!! i truly feel i have to vote for the lesser of the two evils, and that to me seems to be landrieu this time. Written by georges
on 10/10/2008
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Jindal's bill didn't pass, Mary Landrieu's bill did. In fact jindal wasn't around Congress very much and he was rated one of the least effective Congressmen. The First District will be much better off now that he's resigning. Written by David Quidd
on 12/1/2007
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John Kennedy has my vote over Mary Landreau. David [not Duke], I think if you check the record it was Bobby Jindal that got us a bigger cut of offshore oil revenues, $3 billion more for Road Home, $7 billion for coastal restoration. In fact what Bobby originally ask in offshore revenue we got a much smaller cut of Federal tax for coastal restoration. Written by Ben
on 11/30/2007
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Mary Landrieu is one of the weakest members of the US Senate, and in no way in the same league as John Breaux. Staff members, and fellow Senators, thought of her as a light weight. Probably a good person overall, but so is Kathleen Blanco - although I will grant that Landrieu is more competent than Blanco.
John Kennedy, by contrast, is one of the most capable, most ethical public servants that Louisiana has had in the last several decades. We are darn fortunate to have him, and he will be an asset to our country in the Senate. Think a Daniel Patrick Moynihan caliber senator. Written by chaubert
on 11/30/2007
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give me a break..when you run for office and your last name is Landrieu and you refuse to change it after you are married...isn't that doing the same thing you accuse Kennedy of ?? is that not taking advantage of a political opp. ? Jeezzz....
Mitch I have and would vote for, but Mary is a liteweight who votes one way her first four years...and when the Dem. says jump, she says how far? ! 2 years out she becomes "moderate".
I got so sick of her and Blanco's "whine and blame" press conferences post Katrina...it so turned me off to the two crying sisters that I almost wish I would have voted for Suzie Terrell !! Written by Ginny
on 11/30/2007
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Not only is John Kennedy a political opportunist, he's also a little slow on the uptake. To be seeking the advice of Karl Rove in the summer of 2007 is just silly. Rove's dream of a "permanent Republican majority" went the way of Bush's approval rating and the U.S. housing market. In other words, in the trash. Senator Landrieu, on the other hand, has been on a roll since Katrina. Getting La. a bigger cut of offshore oil revenues, $3 billion more for Road Home, $7 billion for coastal restoration--I mean, what's not to like? And what's Kennedy going to do, get David "Hustler" Vitter to campaign with him? Sorry, Mr. Kennedy, but your career train rolled out of the station while you were still in the restroom with Larry Craig. Written by David (neither Vitter nor Duke)
on 11/30/2007
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What is Landrieu's real last name? I feel that it is a disgrace not to use your married name? If and she is still using it, well then, I feel John Kennedy can run for anything he wishes! It is his Civil Right! Written by driver
on 11/30/2007
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Kennedy's announcement makes his television expenditure this fall all the more questionable. Kennedy was not on the ballot for State Treasurer as he had no opponent. It is highly unusual to say the least for a Statewide elected official to buy television time when he has already been elected. The only reasonable explanation is that he was using his state campaign money to promote his pending candidacy for the US Senate. While a federal official like Bobby Jindal can use his federal campaign funds to run for a state office, state officials cannot use state campaign accounts to run for federal office. Federal Campaign finance laws are far more restrictive than Louisiana"s. Kennedy may have opened himself up to a complaint to the Federal Election Commission for circumventing federal campaign finance restrictions. Written by David Quidd
on 11/30/2007
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My goodness. Mary Snellings has coming out with her axe slinging already. However, Mary, dear, we must agree with you on the point of him just running for state office and now trying for the Senate. Dear, this does not mean that we support you. It means we agree with this point at least. We now must search for a "lunatic". Written by RhettsWife
on 11/30/2007
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