AP Wire

Troy Hebert files suit against polling firm

by Melinda Deslatte, Associated Press

Hebert says the May poll was "flawed" because it incorrectly identified him as a Republican. He is running without party affiliation.

Troy Hebert
Photo by Robin May

A candidate in Louisiana's U.S. Senate race is suing a Baton Rouge polling firm over a May survey that was used to keep him out of two candidate forums.

Former Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Troy Hebert filed his lawsuit Tuesday in Baton Rouge district court against Southern Media and Opinion Research poll and pollster Bernie Pinsonat.

Hebert says the May poll was "flawed" because it incorrectly identified him as a Republican. He is running without party affiliation. He's seeking a judgment ordering Pinsonat to conduct a new poll in the 24-candidate race.

Pinsonat acknowledges the poll misidentified Hebert's party affiliation. But the pollster says he can't control how organizations use data from his polls and he doesn't encourage organizations to use poll results to set criteria for candidate debates.