National and state Republicans are attacking former Sen. John Breaux (D) before he’s even decided whether he will run for governor this year.

The state party launched a TV ad last week claiming that Breaux, who now lives in Maryland and works in Washington, D.C., is barred from running in the Pelican State.

The GOP maintains that since Breaux registered to vote in Maryland he gave up his claim on being a resident of Louisiana.

Democrats believe that is debatable given that Breaux still owns property in the Pelican State.

Breaux has thrown the gubernatorial — and possibly next year’s Senatorial — race into flux by raising the specter that he might run.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D) is running for re-election, and Rep. Bobby Jindal (R) already has launched an aggressive campaign to defeat her.

On Monday, the Republican Governors Association circulated an article penned by a Louisiana law professor outlining reasons why Breaux would not qualify as a candidate.

— Nicole Duran