United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2010

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United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2010
← 2004 November 2, 2010 2016 →
  DVitterOfficial.jpg Charles Melancon.jpg
Nominee David Vitter Charlie Melancon
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 715,304 476,423
Percentage 56.6% 37.7%
Louisiana Senatorial Election Results by County, 2010.svg
Parish results
U.S. senator before election

David Vitter
Republican

 Elected U.S. Senator

David Vitter
Republican

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The 2010 United States Senate election in Louisiana was held on November 2, 2010. Republican incumbent U.S. Senator David Vitter won re-election to a second term.

Background

  • Party primaries: Saturday, August 28, 2010
  • Runoffs (if necessary): Saturday, October 2, 2010
  • General Election: Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Vitter faced a potentially serious challenge in the Republican primary as well as the general election. Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré, who is best known for serving as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina responsible for coordinating military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina-affected areas across the Gulf Coast was allegedly mulling over whether or not to challenge Vitter in the Republican Primary.[1] Tony Perkins, a former Louisiana state representative and current president of the socially conservative Family Research Council, acknowledged interest in running against Vitter because of the prostitution scandal.[2][3] Nonetheless, Perkins decided not to run; Perkins endorses Vitter for reelection.[4]

Some speculated that Vitter's reelection might have become complicated, by the prostitution scandal revealed in 2007, but he continued to lead in aggregate polling against potential opponents.[5]

Following a movement to draft him into the race,[6] John Cooksey, a former U.S. Representative, appeared poised to put together a challenge, planning on spending $200,000 of his own money.[7] Cooksey, however, pulled back and did not qualify.

A campaign to draft porn actress Stormy Daniels began in early 2009. She considered whether to run but ultimately declined to qualify.[8][9][10]

On August 27, 2009, Congressman Charlie Melançon announced his intentions to run for Senate in 2010. Melançon, who has been representing Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District since 2005, released the announcement to his supporters, saying that "Louisiana needs a different approach, more bi-partisan, more disciplined, more honest and with a whole lot more common sense." Melancon has been a leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally conservative Democrats who aim to lower the deficit and reform the budget.[11][12]

In the weeks before the election a major concern for Vitter's camp was possibly voter apathy about the race. For example, publisher Rolfe H. McCollister Jr., in his Greater Baton Rouge Business Report, endorsed fellow Republican Jay Dardenne over Democrat Caroline Fayard in the simultaneous race for lieutenant governor of Louisiana, but then explicitly made "no endorsement" for U.S. Senate:

I have talked with a number of voters who are just not very excited about this race—the candidates or the tone. I'm not either. You're on your own here.[13]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Polling

Poll Source Dates administered Charlie Melançon Neeson Chauvin Undecided
Clarus Research Group August 15–16, 2010 43% 3% 52%

Results

Democratic Primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charlie Melançon 77,702 70.6
Democratic Neeson Chauvin 19,507 17.7
Democratic Cary Deaton 12,842 11.7
Total votes 110,051 100

Republican primary

Candidates

Polling

Poll Source Dates administered David Vitter (R) Chet Traylor (R) Undecided
Public Policy Polling August 21–22, 2010 81% 5% 9%
Clarus Research Group August 15–16, 2010 74% 5% 18%

Results

Republican Primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Vitter (Incumbent) 85,179 87.6
Republican Chet Traylor 6,838 7.0
Republican Nick Accardo 5,221 5.4
Total votes 97,238 100

Libertarian primary

Candidates

  • Anthony Gentile [15]
  • Randall Todd Hayes[16]

Results

Libertarian Primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Libertarian Randall Todd Hayes 1,529 61.7
Libertarian Anthony “Tony G” Gentile 950 38.3
Total votes 2,479 100

General election

Candidates

Major

Minor

  • Michael Karlton Brown (I)
  • Skip Galan (I)
  • Milton Gordon (I)
  • Randall Todd Hayes (L)
  • Tommy LaFargue (I)
  • Bob Lang (I)
  • William McShan (Reform)
  • Sam Houston Melton Jr. (I)
  • Mike Spears (I)
  • Ernest Wooton (I)

Campaign

Melançon has heavily criticized Vitter for prostitution sex scandal.[17][18] Vitter has released television advertising criticizing Melancon for his support for Obama's stimulus package and his support for amnesty for illegal immigrants.[19]

Debates

Melancon claimed “In August, Melancon challenged Vitter to a series of five live, televised town hall-style debates across the state. In his 2004 campaign for Senate, Vitter committed to five live, televised debates. Since Melancon issued the challenge, Vitter and Melancon have been invited to a total of seven live, televised debates. Vitter has only accepted invitations to debates hosted by WWL-TV and WDSU-TV, both in New Orleans.”[20]

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Cook Political Report Lean R[24] October 31, 2010
Rothenberg R favored[25] October 28, 2010
Swing State Project Likely R[citation needed]
RealClearPolitics Likely R[26] October 31, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball Likely R[27] October 28, 2010
CQ Politics Likely R[28] October 31, 2010

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 David
Vitter (R)		 Charlie
Melancon (D)
Magellan Strategies October 24, 2010 52% 35%
Clarus Research Group October 21–24, 2010 50% 38%
Anazalone October 22, 2010 46% 43%
Magellan Strategies October 10, 2010 51% 35%
Magellan Strategies September 19, 2010 52% 34%
Rasmussen Reports August 30, 2010 54% 33%
Public Policy Polling August 21–22, 2010 51% 41%
Clarus Research Group August 15–16, 2010 48% 36%
Rasmussen Reports June 24, 2010 53% 35%
Public Policy Polling June 12–13, 2010 46% 37%
Magellan Strategies June 10–13, 2010 51% 31%
Rasmussen Reports April 7, 2010 52% 36%
Rasmussen Reports March 10, 2010 57% 34%
Rasmussen Reports February 10, 2010 57% 33%
YouGovPolimetrix January 6–11, 2010 52% 32%
Rasmussen Reports January 14, 2010 53% 35%
Rasmussen Reports October 5, 2009 46% 36%
Public Policy Polling July 17–19, 2009 44% 32%
Research 2000 March 2–4, 2009 48% 41%

Fundraising

Candidate (Party) Receipts Disbursements Cash On Hand Debt
David Vitter (R) $8,384,938 $6,833,900 $3,555,994 $0
Charles Melancon (D) $3,711,556 $4,043,362 $445,853 $0
Source: Federal Election Commission[29]

Results

United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2010 [30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican David Vitter (incumbent) 715,304 56.56% +5.53%
Democratic Charlie Melancon 476,423 37.67% +8.44%
Libertarian Randall Hayes 13,952 1.10% N/A
Independent Michael Brown 9,970 0.79% N/A
Independent Mike Spears 9,188 0.73% N/A
Independent Ernest Wooton 8,164 0.65% N/A
Independent Skip Galan 7,471 0.59% N/A
Reform William McShan 5,879 0.46% N/A
Independent Bob Lang 5,732 0.45% N/A
Independent Milton Gordon 4,806 0.38% N/A
Independent Tommy LaFargue 4,042 0.32% N/A
Independent Sam Melton 3,779 0.30% N/A
Majority 238,881 18.89%
Total votes 1,264,710 100.0
Republican hold Swing

References

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External links

  1. ↑ General Russell Honore To Run Vs David Vitter In Louisiana US Race?
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  17. ↑ Melancon's First TV Ad: 'David Vitter Hasn't Been Honest With Louisiana' (VIDEO) | TPMDC
  18. ↑ Melancon Turns Vitter Prostitutution Reenactment Video Into Two-Minute TV Ad (VIDEO) | TPMDC
  19. ↑ David Vitter slams Charlie Melancon in new Senate TV ad | NOLA.com
  20. ↑ http://www.bayoubuzz.com/buzz/latest-buzz/82514-louisiana-politics-vitter-agrees-to-second-televised-debate-in-new-orleans
  21. ↑ Vitter, Melancon meet for first debate | wwltv.com | WWL Home Page
  22. ↑ David Vitter, Charlie Melancon will debate tonight | NOLA.com
  23. ↑ Senate candidates face off for final time on WWL-TV in heated debate | New Orleans News, Local News, Breaking News, Weather | wwltv.com | Political News
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