Washington Watch for July 5, 2009

• By GERARD SHIELDS
• Advocate Washington bureau
• Published: Jul 5, 2009 - Page: 7B

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When U.S. Sen. David Vitter recently heard that Louisiana colleague U.S. Rep. Charles “Charlie” Melancon is considering challenging him for his seat next year, the Louisiana Republican wasted little time in going on the attack.

“It was widely reported that President (Barack) Obama and congressional liberals have talked one of their most dependable southern votes, Charlie Melancon, into challenging me for the United States Senate,” Vitter wrote in a plea for campaign funds.

The matchup could be a classic Louisiana political battle. Melancon, a Napoleonville Democrat, is a throwback to the days of former Chackbay Republican U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin and another Cajun, former Democratic U.S. Sen. John Breaux, of Crowley.

Quick with a quip, the former sugar lobbyist even has the nickname, “Charlie Boy,” to give him the reputation of being a good ole boy from Louisiana. Vitter has operated himself and has run campaigns as the antithesis of traditional Louisiana politicians.

“While Vitter has the advantage of being an incumbent Republican in a slightly Republican leaning state, Melancon has a track record of being an attractive candidate who is popular across party lines,” said Wayne Parent, an LSU political scientist.

That Melancon is even considering the race is a surprise. When first asked about a bid months ago, Melancon said he was happy being a member of the House. His party controls the chamber and he has a leadership role with a key faction, the Blue Dog coalition of moderate Democrats.

But Melancon has to consider other factors. Republicans have already targeted him for next year’s race in a district that supported John McCain with over 60 percent of the vote. And then there is the consideration that Melancon’s district may be carved up in the reapportionment changes in 2012 when Louisiana is expected to lose one of its seven House seats because population loss.

If Melancon needed any indication of how his opponents would come after him, he got it in the Vitter e-mail. Republicans point out that Melancon voted for the bailout of the nation’s financial institutions, the $800 billion “stimulus” spending plan of Obama and the president’s budget.

“President Obama’s close ally Charlie Melancon voted with him on every one of these crucial issues,” Vitter said.

Then there is the “card check” bill. Melancon co-sponsored the House legislation that would allow labor unions to form by getting signatures from workers outside the traditional method of having a secret ballot.

Employers have said the change would apply more open pressure on workers to sign a petition form.

“This is a right to work state,” said Bernie Pinsonat a pollster with Southern Media and Opinion Research. “He can’t be considered a moderate Democrat anymore.”

And for a Democrat to beat Vitter, the party would likely have to clear the field. Shaw Group CEO Jim Bernhard, a perennial maybe candidate, has expressed interest in a bid. Another name that has surfaced is former U.S. Rep. Chris John, D-Crowley, who seems happy with his current role as president of the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association.