INDReporter

New PACs surface in Senate race

by Leslie Turk

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and her lead GOP challenger Congressman Bill Cassidy are running close when it comes to money. Landrieu has $5.5 million to Cassidy's $5.6 million in the bank.

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and challenger, U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, a New Orleans Democrat, and her lead GOP challenger Congressman Bill Cassidy of Baton Rouge are running close when it comes to money. Landrieu has $5.5 million to Cassidy's $5.6 million in the bank.

In what will be a tight election that's tracked nationally; however, it's doubtful money will be an issue for either candidate.

To that end, the most recent fundraising news comes from the side of Landrieu, who has joined with other Democratic women, including senators up for re-election, to form a joint fundraising committee called Blue Senate 2014.

Cassidy, meanwhile, has received a financial boost from Citizens for Conservative Leadership, a super PAC that's new to the Louisiana fray.

Its six-figure effort includes a TV ad, which mirrors big budget movie trailers, that is running statewide on both broadcast and cable outlets. The digital advertising plan went live a couple weeks ago with the launch of SenateMatch.com, a unique take on dating sites that will be marketed using web spots.

Spokesman Scott Hobbs said, "In the statewide television campaign, we take the dramatic, movie trailer route with an ad that will cut through the back-and-forth clutter, and clearly encapsulate what this one Senate seat could mean to our country."

Citizens for Conservative Leadership is headed by Josh Robinson, a longtime political consultant and Cassidy's former chief of staff. Hobbs and Jason Hebert of The Political Firm created the television ad and Harris Media is handling the digital campaign.