Candidates for U.S. Congress inundated the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office first thing Wednesday, as the three-day qualifying period for the Nov. 4 election opened. The frontrunners for U.S. Senate didn’t hesitate to start brandishing their swords in the war of campaign words.
Congressman Bill Cassidy was one of the first qualifying to challenge senior U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu. Cassidy made it clear he is unimpressed with either the three-term senator’s longevity in Washington, or her clout as chair of the powerful Senate Energy Committee.
“You can speak of clout, but frankly you should ask, ‘Why haven’t you been effective?’,” Cassidy admonished the assembled members of the press. He urged the media to put Landrieu on the spot and ask her, “Why were you not able to get a Senate floor vote on Keystone XL pipeline?”
Landrieu, who qualified mid-morning, said she would match her Washington record against Cassidy’s any day.
“Congressman Cassidy has done everything he can to not talk about the real issues in this campaign, because his record is very sparse and very modest,” Landrieu declared. “And so he can’t really talk about a record of leadership.”
Broadcast debates for the Senate candidates are in the works, including one put on by WRKF on Oct. 29. Landrieu has agreed to the debates, as has Republican Rob Maness, who is expected to qualify on Friday. Cassidy has not yet confirmed he will debate.
Also qualifying for the senate race on Wednesday were Thomas Clements of Lafayette, a Republican and small business owner; Democrat William P. Waymire of Gonzales; and Libertarian Brannon Lee McMorris of Denham Springs.
Eight candidates qualified for the 6th Congressional District race Wednesday, the seat currently held by Cassidy. Republicans include State Senator Dan Claitor, Jindal’s former coastal policy guru Garret Graves, and political newcomer Paul Dietzel II—namesake and grandson of the former LSU football star and coach. But arguably the biggest name in the race is a Democrat—former Governor Edwin Edwards.
The 87-year-old Edwards, who qualified Wednesday afternoon, didn’t shy away from questions about his age, noting that some have compared him to former governor Earl K. Long.
“I’m not going to follow Earl Long’s path all the way,” Edwards said. “After he was out of the governor’s office, he ran for—and was elected to—the House of Representatives. Unfortunately he died before he could take office. I’m not going to follow him that far.”
