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Louisiana Governor’s Race Less Certain for David Vitter

A couple recent polls show Vitter struggling to consolidate support against a Democrat in a runoff. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
A couple recent polls show Vitter struggling to consolidate support against a Democrat in a runoff. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

For months, GOP Sen. David Vitter has been the front-runner in this year’s race to succeed term-limited governor/Republican presidential candidate Bobby Jindal.  

But even though Louisiana has completed its transformation to a Republican state, Vitter’s election is not a foregone conclusion.  

The senator would be most vulnerable in a November runoff with another Republican who could attract the senator’s GOP critics and Democrats who wouldn’t have a candidate in the race. Stuart Rothenberg explored this dynamic in his September column, “Does David Vitter Have Something to Worry About?” And a couple recent polls show Vitter struggling to consolidate GOP support in a runoff against Democrat John Bel Edwards.  

The senator and his allied super PAC still have a fundraising advantage in the race, but a safe rating overstates the senator’s standing in the race. We’re changing the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report /Roll Call rating to Republican Favored .  

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Does David Vitter Have Something to Worry About?

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