Despite Karl Rove's apparent coup in turning Louisana Democratic State Treasurer John Kennedy, who is now running as a Republican against Democrat Mary Landrieu in the 2008 Louisiana Senate race, Kennedy has many weaknesses. Not the least of which is Kennedy's strong connection to notoriously corrupt Congressman William Jefferson. Jefferson is currently facing life in prison on 16 pending federal charges against him related to allegations of corruption.
In 2004, Kennedy ran for Senate as a Democrat. The other major Democratic candidate in the race -- Rep. Christopher John -- received the backing of virtually the entire Louisana and national Democratic Party endorsement, including crucial endorsements from the DSCC, from Governor Kathleen Blanco, and from former Senator John Breaux.
The only notable exception? Congressman William Jefferson, who bucked the party and strongly backed Kennedy.
Kennedy's strategy for getting into a runoff with Vitter included making vague, populist-sounding economic promises, and heavily courting the African American vote. Jefferson's endorsement was virtually the centerpiece of his campaign. Ultimately, Kennedy finished third behind Vitter and John, and Vitter won the election in the first round, without a runoff.
Kennedy has a terrible record on racial issues. In 1989, Kennedy tried to limit the autonomy of a historically black university. In 1995, Kennedy, who was managing a Republican gubernatorial campaign, hired a political consultant who had been a top deputy to white supremacist David Duke.
Kennedy has also claimed to be related to John F. Kennedy, sending out mailers to African American voters claiming that he represented the "Kennedy tradition."
Kennedy is very close to Jefferson, but Landrieu should be cautious before she goes on the attack. No matter how awful Jefferson is, he's still technically a Democrat. And attacking Jefferson could alienate more New Orleans voters and African Americans than it helps her state wide. Vitter won in 2004 in part because Democratic infighting depressed African American turnout. In 2008, that's a bigger concern in part because of the after-effects of Katrina.