UPDATE: I'm hearing that the Big Orange blog will be releasing polling data on Louisiana later this week.
Sinator Vitter dodged one potential opponent in the Republican primary in the person of former Rep. John Cooksey, who was reported to be setting up a committee to explore the idea of running for the seat.
"I am not running for the U.S. Senate against David Vitter."
That's fine ... as we are still looking at a nice GOP menage a trois - the Sinator, the Adult Film Star, and the Moralizer. Should be fun!
On the Democratic side, Congressman Charlie Melancon has repeatedly been asked to consider running for state-wide office. Thus far, he has refused to make a run, preferring to remain in the House, where he leads the Blue Dog Caucus. For the 2010 Senate race, that seems to be the case as well:
"Never say never, but I'm not contemplating a run at this time."
That leaves the field to two candidates that are actively considering making the race:
Jim Bernhard: the former Chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party, and founder of one of Louisiana's Fortune 500 companies, The Shaw Group, has been out and about meeting folks up in Washington and here in Louisiana about making a run for the Senate. I have no doubt that the DSCC LOVES the idea of a Bernhard run, because Mr. Bernhard can self-finance.
Honestly, I'm not impressed by the Democratic field right now. Chris John is a conservative pro-business type that will run a center-right campaign, which will not go anywhere. I don't know Mr. Bernhard's politics, other than he's a Democrat. But I do know that uber-wealthy candidates often lose. I'll keep an open mind on him, but I'd like to know where he stands on various issues. I'd also like to see a certain CenLa Mayor get in the race. He knows who he is.
