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Vitter Primary Opponent Attacks in New Radio Ad

Vitter Primary Opponent Attacks in New Radio Ad

By Erin McPike - August 18, 2010

Louisiana Republican Sen. David Vitter's primary opponent, Chet Traylor, has less than $50,000 in his campaign account, so he's making a splash today with a new radio ad.

According to sources in the state, he threw nearly all of his campaign cash behind the statewide ad, which pummels Vitter for the host of negative headlines he's endured over the past several years.

Here's the text of the ad:

"Why is Congress so corrupt? David Vitter: He's part of the corruption. Now it's time to man up. A judge found Vitter committed battery on a woman. It was an unprovoked attack. Next, Vitter's notorious scandal with the DC Madam. She ran an escort service for powerful men in Washington if you know what I mean. Then a former prostitute said she, well, serviced Vitter on numerous occasions in New Orleans. That's family values, right? Now, Vitter's Senate aide for women's affairs holds his girlfriend hostage while slashing her face with a knife. Vitter didn't fire the aid; Vitter gave him two more years on his public payroll. Some conservative, huh? Hey Vitter, what's next? Republicans, it's time to man up for change. Chet Traylor, former enlisted U.S. Army, former state trooper, criminal prosecutor, district judge, retired justice of Louisiana Supreme Court. Chet Traylor, conservative Republican. Senate. ‘I'm Chet Traylor, candidate for United States Senate, and I approved this message.' Paid for by Chet Traylor for Senate."

Vitter's campaign issued an e-mail to supporters two weeks ago as a preemptive strike against the oncoming attacks from Traylor. In the e-mail, Vitter's camp warns: "Newspapers and other reports have now confirmed what we suspected all along - our Republican Primary opponent is nothing more than a tool and stalking horse for [Democratic front-runner] Charlie Melancon. And this Melancon-led Republican Primary operation will start vicious attacks against me as early as Tuesday." The Monroe News Star reported at the time that Vitter supporters noticed one of Melancon's top donors dining with Traylor and suspected Melancon was behind Traylor's challenge.

Vitter spokesman Luke Bolar declined to respond to Traylor's new ad. The primary is August 28. If Vitter does not secure 51 percent of the vote at the time, he will move to a runoff on October 2.

Erin McPike is a national political reporter for RealClearPolitics. She can be reached at emcpike@realclearpolitics.com.

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