BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Democrat U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu picked up backing Monday for her re-election bid from Louisiana’s first Republican governor since Reconstruction.
Citing bipartisanship, Former Gov. Dave Treen, who was governor from 1980 to 1984, endorsed Landrieu in the U.S. Senate race over Republican state Treasurer John Kennedy, a week before the Nov. 4 election.
“Sen. Landrieu has always worked across the aisle to get the job done for Louisiana. She is respected by Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, and she is able to deliver for our communities when we need it most. Louisiana cannot afford to lose Sen. Landrieu’s effectiveness in Congress,” Treen said in a statement released by Landrieu’s campaign.
Treen, who was a member of the U.S. House from 1973-1980, also said it was politically beneficial to Louisiana to have Senate representation in both parties. Louisiana’s other U.S. senator is Republican David Vitter.
Kennedy’s campaign spokesman declined to comment on the Treen endorsement, other than to say the campaign wishes the former governor well.
Landrieu has received endorsements from 27 current Republican elected officials around the state, creating conflicts within the state GOP. Republican St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain has appeared in a Landrieu television commercial.
State Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere has said several party members want to craft a way to sanction Republican officials who have endorsed Landrieu over Kennedy.
Despite the rift within the party, Kennedy has received the endorsement of the state’s most prominent and popular Republican: Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who has appeared in a TV campaign ad citing his support for the state treasurer in the Senate race.
Jindal also has filmed a 30-second TV ad supporting Republican state Sen. Bill Cassidy in the 6th Congressional District race against Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Cazayoux. The district represents Baton Rouge and its surrounding parishes.
On Monday, the campaign for U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise released a radio ad in which Jindal touts his backing of the Republican incumbent in the 1st Congressional District, representing the suburban New Orleans area.
“I’m supporting Congressman Steve Scalise. There are plenty of people in Congress who talk a lot, but not many who actually do a lot. But Steve Scalise is different,” Jindal says in the ad.
Scalise faces opposition from Democratic businessman Jim Harlan, who has largely self-financed his campaign.
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