Through a video on his campaign Web site, Congressman Charlie Melancon officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate this morning, bringing to a close months of speculation and posturing that had all but assured he would enter the 2010 contest. Melancon, a Democrat and native of Napoleonville, has targeted incumbent U.S. Sen. David Vitter in what promises to be a nasty and tumultuous race.
Vitter, a Republican from Metairie, is ripe for attacks over his connection to a Beltway-based prostitution ring, while Melancon has already been battered for his connections to President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. To be certain, it’ll be a battle of values, with both sides investing substantial resources to reach voters statewide.
The announcement, while long expected, reverberates on many different levels. It means Shaw CEO Jim Bernhard, a Democrat, has been coaxed out of the race for good. But it also means that Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, a Republican, is on the hot seat. He’s been rumored to be looking at the race and his camp has remained silent.
Now that Melancon’s campaign is official, it’s likely that Vitter’s repeated attacks on Melancon, with many happening in town hall meetings, will no longer go unanswered. Sources close to both campaigns suggest the mud could start flying as early as September, when lawmakers reconvene work in Washington. Read the full story here.—Jeremy Alford
