Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy is skipping the latest TV debate in Louisiana's U.S. Senate race.
Cassidy
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy is skipping the latest TV debate in Louisiana's U.S. Senate race.
Cassidy's absence Monday night gives Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu and Republican tea party favorite Rob Maness the opportunity to criticize him to a statewide television audience without him on stage to defend himself.
The debate will be held in New Orleans and aired in most media markets around Louisiana, with a week remaining before the Nov. 4 election.
Before early voting Monday in Baton Rouge, Cassidy says prepping for today's debate would have kept him from his efforts to meet as many voters as possible. He noted he'll be participating Wednesday in a debate against Landrieu and Maness.
Landrieu is targeted nationally by Republicans in their effort to regain control of the Senate.