Cassidy continues strong fundraising

Baton Rouge Congressman Bill Cassidy continues to outpace most of his freshman Republican colleagues when it comes to fundraising. Last week, lawmakers filed financial reports for the third quarter with the Federal Elections Commission and Cassidy came in second amongst GOP newbies with more than $680,000 in the bank, behind U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen of Minnesota. The figure also places Cassidy atop the list of incumbents in Louisiana’s House delegation. He technically trails U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, who has $1.8 million in the bank, but Melancon is running for the Senate next year. The incumbent that came closest to having as much cash on hand as Cassidy was U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, who has about $440,000 in his campaign kitty. Of the nearly $200,000 raised during the third quarter by Cassidy, nearly 94% came directly from Louisiana residents, businesses and political action committees.—Jeremy Alford