United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2008
Encyclopedia
The 2008 United States Senate election in Louisiana was held on November 4, 2008. This was the first time since the 1970s that Louisiana used primaries for federal races. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu
won re-election to a third term.
.
This increased vulnerability was supposed to be the result of a significant drop in the state's African-American population after Hurricane Katrina
, especially in Landrieu's hometown of New Orleans. Louisiana also elected a Republican senator in 2004 and President Bush carried the state twice, in 2004
with 58 percent of the vote. Also, Republican Congressman Bobby Jindal
won the 2007 gubernatorial election
with 54%.
The Rothenberg Political Report considered it a 'Narrow Advantage for Incumbent Party'. Landrieu was considered the most vulnerable Democratic senator up for re-election in 2008.
Official campaign websites
Mary Landrieu
Mary Loretta Landrieu is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana and a member of the Democratic Party.Born in Arlington, Virginia, Landrieu was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana...
won re-election to a third term.
Background
The primary elections were to be held September 6, 2008, but were rescheduled for October 3, 2008 due to storm damage following Hurricane GustavHurricane Gustav
The name Gustav has been used for five tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean:* 1984's Tropical Storm Gustav - Spent most of its existence as a tropical depression hovering over Bermuda, no major damage was reported....
.
This increased vulnerability was supposed to be the result of a significant drop in the state's African-American population after Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, especially in Landrieu's hometown of New Orleans. Louisiana also elected a Republican senator in 2004 and President Bush carried the state twice, in 2004
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
with 58 percent of the vote. Also, Republican Congressman Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
won the 2007 gubernatorial election
Louisiana gubernatorial election, 2007
The Louisiana gubernatorial election of 2007 was held on October 20. The filing deadline for candidates was September 6. On the day of the election, all 12 candidates competed in an open jungle primary. With all precincts reporting, Bobby Jindal won the election with 54%.-Background:Elections in...
with 54%.
Predictions
CQ Politics rated this race as 'Leans Democrat'. The Cook Political Report considered it 'Lean Democrat'.The Rothenberg Political Report considered it a 'Narrow Advantage for Incumbent Party'. Landrieu was considered the most vulnerable Democratic senator up for re-election in 2008.
Polling
| Poll Source | Dates administered | Landrieu (D) | Kennedy (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen Reports | October 21, 2008 | 53% | 43% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 25, 2008 | 54% | 41% |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 17, 2008 | 56% | 39% |
| Rasmussen Reports | July 9, 2008 | 49% | 44% |
| Southern Media & Opinion Research | July 1, 2008 | 46% | 40% |
| Rasmussen Reports | May 28, 2008 | 47% | 44% |
| Mellman Group | May 17-20, 2008 | 49% | 33% |
| Southern Media & Opinion Research | March 26 - April 9, 2008 | 50% | 38% |
| Survey USA | December 6-10, 2007 | 46% | 42% |
Results
External links
- Elections Division from the Louisiana Secretary of State
- U.S. Congress candidates for Louisiana at Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- Louisiana U.S. Senate from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Louisiana U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Official campaign websites
- Senator Mary Landrieu, Democratic nominee
- John Kennedy for U.S. Senate, Republican Candidate