Here's some good news:
http://www.nytimes.com/...
A state district judge on Friday threw out a challenge to Senator Mary L. Landrieu’s bid for re-election in Louisiana.
The judge, Wilson Fields, of Baton Rouge, ruled that a lawsuit questioning Ms. Landrieu’s residency was premature. The suit, filed by State Representative Paul Hollis, claimed that Ms. Landrieu, a Democrat, lived full time in Washington and could not represent Louisiana because she was not a state resident. Mr. Hollis, a Republican, had briefly considered a run against Ms. Landrieu.
Judge Fields said the United States Constitution made it clear that the residency of senators mattered only on the day of an election.
“She has not been elected, and if I read the Constitution, in its plain language it says ‘when elected,’ ” Judge Fields said. The court will welcome a challenge only, he said, if and when Ms. Landrieu is re-elected on Nov. 4.
Ms. Landrieu, whose campaign is one of a handful that could determine control of the Senate, is registered to vote at a home in New Orleans that she co-owns with her parents, but she lists her Capitol Hill home as her address in regulatory documents.
Mr. Hollis claimed that Ms. Landrieu was a permanent resident of Washington. “I have not decided if I should appeal,” he said after the ruling Friday morning.
Ms. Landrieu had been subpoenaed to attend the hearing, but she did not appear. “We told our client that we’d deal with this matter first, and if it goes to trial, she’ll be here,” said Tony Clayton, Ms. Landrieu’s lead lawyer, when asked by the judge to explain her absence.
For Ms. Landrieu’s embattled re-election bid, the ruling may offer an opportunity to brush aside an issue that has become a flash point, despite having been carried over from her previous Senate elections. - New York Times, 9/5/14
Now we'll see if Republicans will still make a stink about this but Landrieu is hitting back at Tea Party Rep. Bill Cassidy (R. LA) on this issue:
http://blogs.rollcall.com/...=
Sen. Mary L. Landrieu has responded forcefully to criticism of her blockade of sanctions against Venezuela.
In an opinion piece for Friday’s edition of The Advertiser in Lafayette, the Energy and Natural Resources chairwoman and Louisiana Democrat said that sanctions for human rights violations by the government of President Nicolás Maduro shouldn’t be configured to cost jobs in her home state.
“For 70 years, thousands of Louisianians have gone to work at the nation’s sixth largest oil refinery in Lake Charles, owned by Citgo, a Venezuelan company with a strong and respected reputation in Louisiana,” wrote Landrieu. “This substantial payroll in our state has bought hundreds of homes, sent thousands of kids to college and contributed mightily to southwest Louisiana’s economy.”
Landrieu blocked an effort to advance the sanctions measure by unanimous consent just before the start of August recess without a change to address the operation of the Citgo refinery. Citgo is Venezuela’s state-run oil company.
Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy, who is running against Landrieu this fall in a key Senate race, had joined with Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in blasting Landrieu for opposing the quick advancement of the sanctions measure as currently drafted. In response, Landrieu is seeking to demonstrate a contrast on priorities. - Roll Call, 9/5/14
It's a tight race for sure and it could go all the way until December but it's one that Landrieu can win if she can get the base out for her. Click here to donate and get involved with Landrieu's campaign:
http://www.marylandrieu.com/