Landrieu overpowered on airwaves

Outside groups supporting Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) have taken control of the airwaves in Louisiana, leaving Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La) thoroughly outgunned during the runoff period ahead of their Saturday election.

According to an analysis by the Center for Public Integrity, ads from outside groups attacking Landrieu account for about 13,900 of the 14,000 TV spots that have run since the Nov. 4 jungle primary.

Leading the way in the attack ads against Landrieu are the National Republican Senatorial Committee, two super-PACs backed by the Koch brothers, and the National Rifle Association; together they account for almost half of the total ads run since Nov. 4.

{mosads}That’s a stark contrast from the run-up to Nov. 4, when the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and other liberal groups bet big, running about 19,000 TV ads, according to the CPI analysis.

The Nov. 4 elections left many political watchers doubtful that Landrieu could survive another tough contest in the face of a Republican wave, and with the Senate majority no longer at stake, national Democrats and liberal groups opted to sit on their money.

The DSCC announced early in the runoff period it was pulling the estimated $2 million it had allocated on Landrieu’s behalf.

Landrieu’s campaign has also been swamped by ads from the Cassidy campaign, which has run nearly 5,000 TV ads against Landrieu’s 3,000.

There’s no indication Landrieu will be able to make up the difference — Federal Election Commission filings show Cassidy outraised Landrieu during the runoff period, and he has about $1.3 million in the bank, compared to less than $800,000 for Landrieu.