La. treasurer leads to replace Vitter in Senate

Louisiana Treasurer John Kennedy leads among Republicans potentially seeking to replace Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) in the Senate.

According to a poll conducted by conservative North Star Opinion Research on behalf of Kennedy, the state treasurer takes 18 percent support, ahead of Reps. Charles Boustany Jr. (R-La.), at 13 percent, and John Fleming, at 7 percent.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu would be the strongest Democratic challenger in the Senate race. He took 39 percent in the poll, which is the baseline of support for any Democrat in the state, according to the poll.

Louisiana has gone deep red in recent election cycles and it will be an uphill battle for any Democrat running for Senate in 2016. Former Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) was crushed by now-Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in her bid for reelection in 2014.

Kennedy also has by far the best favorability rating of any candidate in Louisiana, at 46 percent favorable and 6 percent unfavorable. He is the third most recognized name on the ballot, behind only Landrieu and Vitter.

Vitter announced last year he was running for governor. He is now the favorite to win, according to the poll.

Since it’s a year before he’d be up for reelection in the Senate, if he wins, he could retire from the Senate and appoint an interim replacement to his seat in the upper chamber. If he loses the governor’s race, he could still run for reelection to the Senate in 2016.

The survey of 600 voters was conducted between Jan. 10 and Jan. 13 and has a 4 percentage point margin of error.