I don’t know what to think about Sen. Mary Landrieu.

On one hand, she’s a liberal democrat who is in President Barack Obama’s pocket on most national issues.

Landrieu received an 88 percent approval rating from Planned Parenthood in 2013, a 3 percent approval rating from Citizens Against Government Waste in 2010, a 17 percent approval rating from Gun Owners of America in 2012 and a 0 percent approval rating from the Family Research Council in 2012, according to votesmart.org.

On the other hand, she’s tried to do what’s best for Louisiana on state issues, such as agriculture and energy.

Although she’s been good for Louisiana at the state level, our boot-shaped home is just too conservative for her to easily win another election with all the support she’s shown Obama.

That’s why U.S. Rep. and Dr. Bill Cassidy, who currently represents Louisiana’s 6th District (the one with Baton Rouge), decided to hop in the race last Wednesday.

Cassidy, who’s represented his district since 2008, will be Landrieu’s major opponent during this election cycle.

There are some other Republicans who have publicly stated that they haven’t ruled out a run. Former U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry — who just lost an election to Rep. Charles Boustany when their districts were merged — is the most notable, but Family Research Council president Tony Perkins and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) president Chas Roemer, the son of former Gov. Buddy Roemer, have also expressed interest.

If any of them decide to run, Louisiana’s open primary system will probably force a runoff between Cassidy and Landrieu.

So should the 17-year incumbent be worried?

Of course she should.

The biggest win Landrieu has ever had during U.S. Senate elections was against current Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy. She beat him by more than 100,000 votes at a 52-to-46 percent margin. A libertarian and some other candidates pulled in another 40,000 votes.

Cassidy is not Kennedy.

Cassidy is well respected by the Republican base in Louisiana. Kennedy was a Democrat until 2007 (he ran against Landrieu in the 2008 election).

Cassidy has represented Louisiana’s most important district for the past four years without doing anything stupid. Before 2008, Kennedy had already lost elections for state attorney general and U.S. Senate running as a Democrat both times.

Additionally, President George W. Bush was in office the last two times Landrieu had an election, and conservative states seemed more willing to elect Democrats to the legislature in that case.

We are now in different times. The continuing partisan divide has led to a great emphasis on national issues, and Obama has upset a lot of Louisiana conservatives over the last five years.

First, he got elected. Strike one.

Then he created a vast social program: The Affordable Care Act. Even though some individual parts of it are popular, conservatives have done a great job renaming it a dirty word — Obamacare. Strike two.

Lately, Obama has been scheming to send federal agents to every house in America and take everyone’s guns. Well, I mean, kind of. Strike three.

Landrieu is going to be Louisiana’s scapegoat for these things, and she’s going to have a tough time separating herself from Obama on these issues.

One of the first things Cassidy pointed out in his announcement video was that Landrieu has voted with Obama 97 percent of the time.

She’s going to have a hard time convincing people that she’s the best choice for Louisiana after they hear that, especially when they don’t particularly care for the president.

Landrieu has done a good job as a Democratic senator from Louisiana. She made sure to take care of our two most important industries, and they like her for it.

She’s been a good role model for our state’s children — something that’s getting harder to say about politicians.

Even so, she’s never run against someone as capable of winning this type of election as Bill Cassidy, and the stars are aligning in his favor.

She’s got my respect, and she should have yours, too.

But Cassidy’s got my vote.

John Parker Ford is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Alexandria.