David Vitter (Getty)

Louisiana Rep. Charlie Melancon hasn’t even said publicly if he’s going to challenge Republican Sen. David Vitter in 2010, but that hasn’t stopped the senator from launching a pre-emptive attack on Melancon to raise some campaign cash.

Vitter on Friday sent out a fundraising e-mail that says Melancon, a Democrat, was talked into running for the Senate by “President Obama and congressional liberals.” The senator also criticized Melancon’s political views, including his votes in favor of the economic stimulus law and a budget blueprint for the next fiscal year.  

Vitter invoked the possibility of a 60-seat Democratic majority that in theory would allow the party to break Republican filibusters. Democrats operationally control 59 Senate seats and are targeting the seat that Vitter won in 2004.