If, as expected, the Senate showdown in Louisiana between incumbent Republican David Vitter and Democratic Congressman Charlie Melancon comes to pass, it is pretty clear at this point that the Louisiana Democratic Party has Melancon's back:
Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Chris Whittington filed a sworn complaint with the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics Thursday accusing U.S. Sen. David Vitter of using taxpayer-funded town hall meetings to engage in campaign activity.
Whittington’s complaint is based on Vitter’s statements at several taxpayer-funded town hall meetings criticizing U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, a potential re-election opponent. At one town hall meeting, Vitter encouraged the audience to "keep up the pressure on" Melancon.
The complaint here is a pretty nuanced one. It would appear that the rules on taxpayer-funded "official visits" are similar to those governing the "franking privilege".
Simply put, when the taxpayer pays for it, explicit campaigning is prohibited.
Of course, anyone who has ever received franked mail from their representative knows that the line is a fine one. For example, the biennial letter that hits my mailbox makes my member of Congress appear infallible, if not invincible.
But the words "Vote For..." never appear in the piece, and therefore it passes muster.
The argument of Whittington and the Louisiana Dems is that by explicitly invoking his likely Senate opponent, Vitter crossed the line from official business to campaigning, which would violate ethics rules. Multiple reports from town halls around the state make it clear that Vitter invoked Melancon with no small amount of frequency, a sign that he is quite concerned about the three-term Democrat. Melancon has been able to win fairly handily in conservative South Louisiana, and almost certainly is the strongest Democrat that Vitter could face in 2010.
Vitter, for his part, is hitting back: "The Democrats' reaction to these town halls across America is to try to shut down the debate and suggest that it's somehow out of bounds. Well it's not out of bounds because this is still America."
Will anything come from the LDP's complaint? That is unclear. What is clear, however, is that the Louisiana Democratic Party is serious about 2010, and serious about their presumptive candidate. Which has to be heartening both to Melancon and the Democrats in Washington eager to expand their Senate majority, if at all possible.