Vitter Rides High on Anti-Obama Sentiment

Hostility toward prez helps La. overlook hooker scandal

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 11, 2009 10:45 AM CDT

(Newser) – You might think an acknowledged client of a Washington prostitute would have a tough time being reelected to the US Senate. But you’d be wrong, the New York Times reports. David Vitter of Louisiana appears to be a strong favorite in his 2010 bid, and he owes it all to one man. “Along comes Obama,” says one local analyst, “and it changes everything.”

The president is drastically unpopular in Louisiana—he won just 14% of the white vote there. Before Vitter's Democratic opponent, Charlie Melancon, even announced he was running, the incumbent ran ads that simply said, “Melancon backs Obama presidency.” Republicans have already tried the tactic in one state senate election, nearly upsetting favored Democrat Norby Chambert. “We knew,” says Chambert, “that the president was going to be a cross we had to bear.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

David Vitter listens to his wife Wendy at a news conference in Metairie,La., after acknowledging that his telephone number appeared in the records of a Washington escort service, July 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Bill Haber/File)

David Vitter asks a question during a Transportation, Safety, Infrastructure Security and Water Quality subcommittee meeting. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh/File)

Louisiana Sen. David Vitter answers questions during a health care town hall meeting in Kenner, La., Aug. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Cheryl Gerber)

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Senator Vitter has his baggage. But on the other hand, the representative is identified with the party that has more liberal baggage. Now how are people going to weigh that out? - T. F. Tenney, bishop emeritus of the Pentecostals of Louisiana

The Cajun mentality has never admired someone who is untrue to their spouse. But if it’s going to be done, it would be better done with a prostitute than with a neighbor’s wife. - Morgan Goudeau, longtime DA of St. Landry Parish

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Vitter Rides High on Anti-Obama Sentiment