LA-Sen: Landrieu holds double-digit lead over Kennedy

It is worth remembering that Mary Landrieu was considered at one time the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent in the country.

So much for that GOP pickup opportunity.

A new independent poll in Louisiana's U.S. Senate race released Thursday continues to show Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu with a double-digit lead over her Republican challenger, state Treasurer John Kennedy.

Forty-nine percent of the voters surveyed by pollster Ed Renwick of Loyola University backed Landrieu, compared with 34% for Kennedy. Seventeen percent said they were either undecided or wouldn't answer the question.

Landrieu led Kennedy in all areas of the state, except for the Baton Rouge region, according to the poll, which was conducted for a consortium of TV stations.

LA-Sen - Landrieu outraising GOP challenger

Mary Landrieu (D-LA), once viewed as the most vulnerable Democratic U.S. senator in the country, enjoys a substantial fundraising advantage over her Republican opponent.

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu has raised $9.5 million in campaign contributions for her re-election bid, according to Federal Election Commission reports released Thursday.

The Democrat collected $4 million more than her Republican opponent, state Treasurer John Kennedy.

Kennedy raised $5.2 million, including $262,153 during the last reporting period covering the three months ending Sept. 30.

Kennedy received big support from the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Republican National Committee, each contributing $17,500 during the period.

The bad news for Kennedy is that the NRSC has pulled its advertising money out of Louisiana. The Washington Post reported earlier this week that the Republicans are effectively giving up on their only opportunity for a senate pickup this year in order to focus on protecting Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), and Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), who are facing unexpectedly strong challenges from their Democratic opponents.

Polling shows Landrieu with a double-digit lead over Kennedy, a former Democrat who switched parties and challenged the incumbent at the urging of Karl Rove.

GOP abandons its only chance for a senate pickup

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is pulling all of its ads out of Louisiana, where Republican John Kennedy is trying to unseat Democrat Mary Landrieu.

This can only mean that the GOP is so worried about losing seats that it previously considered safe, that it is abandoning its offensive position in the 2008 senatorial elections for a purely defensive posture.

The decision to stop advertising in the race against Landrieu reflects a recognition by the NRSC of the stark financial reality it faces in the fall campaign. The Republican committee has been consistently outraised by its Democratic counterpart and, as the political environment has worsened for the GOP in recent weeks, several Republican senators that appeared safe -- Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Saxby Chambliss (Ga.) to name two -- have suddenly appeared more vulnerable.

In recent days the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has launched ads in both Kentucky and Georgia and it's not a stretch to imagine the money once earmarked for Louisiana will now make its way to defend those two incumbents.

Kennedy, the state treasurer and a former Democrat, was personally recruited by Karl Rove to challenge Landrieu, once considered the most vulnerable Democratic senator in the country.

LA Sen - Kennedy to challenge Landrieu

U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) can expect a challenge from Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy, who changed his party affiliation recently from Democrat to Republican.

A message on Kennedy's website makes the announcement, accompanied with a plea for campaign donations.

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.

Earlier this year, former White House political advisor Karl Rove personally encouraged Kennedy to run against Landrieu.

Kennedy is a perennial candidate. With the exception of his re-election campaigns for State Treasurer, he has never made it to the runoff position in a race for governor or U.S. Senate in Louisiana's unique open primary system.