Debating an empty chair: Three of the major contenders in the Louisiana governor’s race are readying for another televised debate tonight, this one without Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter. With just two weeks to go before the Oct. 24 primary election, Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, Republican Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and Democratic state Rep. John Bel Edwards will face each other again on television. The hour-long debate, hosted by WVLA-TV, is set for 7 p.m. before an audience at a Baton Rouge school. It will air on TV and radio stations around Louisiana. Read the full story by The Associated Press, and see a listing of TV and radio stations airing the debate.
Taking off the gloves: Louisiana’s attorney general race may not carry the cachet of the governor’s race, but Gannett Louisiana reports it can match the top of the ticket for nastiness. Republican and tea party darling Jeff Landry, a former congressman, has accused Republican two-term incumbent Attorney General Buddy Caldwell of nepotism, cronyism and corruption—all in a single quote. Democrat Ike Jackson said Caldwell “is as dumb as the bottom of my shoe.” In response to the attacks, Caldwell said all four of his challengers—Democrat Gerald “Geri” Broussard-Baloney and Republican Marty Maley are the others—are little more than ne’er-do-wells who can’t make it as private-sector lawyers or prosecutors. Read the full story.
Death by the pen: The Obama administration today threatened to veto legislation that would allow energy companies to sell U.S. crude freely around the world, FuelFix.com reports. The measure, teed up for House floor debate and votes later this week, is a top priority for oil companies fighting to dismantle a 40-year-old prohibition on exporting most U.S. crude. But in a formal “statement of administration policy,” the White House’s Office of Management says “legislation to remove crude export restrictions is not needed at this time.” If President Barack Obama were presented with the legislation, “his senior advisers would recommend that he veto the bill,” the OMB says. Read the full story.
