INDReporter

Vitter, Melancon spar over polls

by Nathan Stubbs

Sen. David Vitter all but declared victory this week in his  re-election bid against Congressman Charlie Melancon. Sen. David Vitter all but declared victory this week in his re-election bid against Congressman Charlie Melancon. Melancon, meanwhile, is touting a new poll that shows him within three points of the incumbent. This week the Vitter campaign sent out a campaign notice questioning whether Melancon's campaign had completely imploded, claiming a break in Melancon's advertising (the Melancon camp denies this) and lifting an out-of context line from a recent Melancon speech in Abita Springs where he admitted to being down 17 points in the polls. In the speech, Melancon said that Vitter spending $2 million in ads over two months had his campaign down 17 points but that that gap has since been closed. This morning, Melancon sent out a press release touting an Anzalone Liszt Research poll that puts him within three percentage points of Vitter.  The poll also claims that Melancon is picking up more undecided voters than Vitter as the election nears.

The Vitter camp, meanwhile, has just sent out a press release noting the support of more than 30 Democratic and independent elected officials. In Acadiana, those include St. Landry Parish President Don Menard, Acadia Parish Sheriff Wayne Melancon, State Senator Elbert Guillory, Jennings Mayor Terry Duhon and Rayne Mayor Jimbo Petitjean. Locally, a robocall from Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel has been encouraging voters to support Vitter. (Durel's daughter, Nicole Hebert, works for Vitter.)