The Louisiana governor's election is finally underway. The contentious campaign between Republican Senator David Vitter and Democrat Jon Bel Edwards will come to an end as voters head to the polls.
The race has become one of the most salacious because of attack ads. Vitter has been linked to prostitutes in a 2007 scandal. Edwards has repeatedly brought up the scandal in campaign ads and during debates with Vitter in campaign advertisements. In one ad, an announcer intones, "Vitter chose prostitutes over patriots," implying that he answered a sex worker's call during a veteran's program, NPR reported.
Vitter has publicly expressed remorse for the scandal. "This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible," he said, according to People.
Edwards has pointed to Vitter's scandal as proof that he is untrustworthy to Louisiana voters. "This isn't about forgiveness or redemption," said Edwards, according to Politico. "There is a Christian obligation to forgive people when they seek forgiveness. There is no obligation to forget or to vote for people, and his error in judgment was so severe."
Vitter is fighting by accusing Edwards of being soft on terrorism. "John Bel Edwards has pledged to work with Obama to bring Syrian refugees to Louisiana," said an announcer in an attack ad.
"Vitter is dropping in the polls and feeling his lead slipping away, so his paranoia and desperation are kicking in," said Republican pollster Rolf McCollister, The Daily Beast reported.
Despite the mudslinging, the race could still be close, as voter dissatisfaction could make the race a toss-up. "I wish I had a better choice," said Republican voter Rebecca Simoneaux, according to The Wall Street Journal. "It's kind of eeny, meeny, miny, moe."
Regardless of results, the man elected to replace Bobby Jindal will be a surprise winner. If Edwards wins, blue-dog conservative Democrats will make a comeback in Southern politics. If Vitter wins, he will prove to be the political comeback story of 2015.
