Washington Watch for Aug. 10, 2008

• By GERARD SHIELDS
• Advocate Washington Correspondent
• Published: Aug 11, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:55 p.m.

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As state Treasurer John Kennedy launches his Republican bid for U.S. Senate, the words of his father serve as a campaign foundation: “The things you regret most in life are the things you don’t do.”

So Kennedy, 56, finds himself in another race for the Senate, this time against incumbent Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu. Kennedy ran in 1994 as a Democrat, gaining 15 percent of the vote against Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter and former U.S. Rep. Chris John, D-Crowley. Kennedy finished third.

Kennedy has been in his share of high-profile races.

In 1991, he ran and finished third in a campaign to become state attorney general. In 2003, he abandoned a bid to become governor. Kennedy has no regrets in making the unsuccessful bids, he said.

“There is no sin in losing and there is less glory than you would think in winning,” said Kennedy, who is in his third four-year term as treasurer. “The biggest thing to me is running and trying.”

“You take some risks in life and take chances,” Kennedy added. “I’m not a risk-adverse politician.”

This might be his toughest campaign to date. Kennedy will not have to give up his office if he loses. He is being ridiculed by Democrats as a perennial candidate who will run for any office. And he is being criticized for switching parties. Four years ago he aligned himself with Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. 

At the same time, he decried the 2001 and 2003 President Bush tax cuts as “nonsense on a stick.” Kennedy, however, said he has no qualms about running this time as a Republican.

A lawyer, Kennedy served as general counsel in the transition of former GOP Gov. Buddy Roemer. And he served in the state Department of Revenue for former Republican Gov. Mike Foster. Kennedy said the Senate race is not so much about party ideologies.

“The real struggle in Louisiana is between those who like the status quo and the party of reform,” Kennedy said. “I think the party of reform in Louisiana is the Republican Party.”

Kennedy is relishing his ability to run as a candidate from outside Washington. He plans to campaign by pointing the finger at the weak economy, federal deficit and porous U.S. borders, despite it happening on President Bush’s watch.

“Washington is in the ditch and the most dysfunctional part is Congress — both sides,” Kennedy said. “They fight over everything and solve nothing. If you like what is going on in Washington, then I’m not your candidate.”

Though he used to be a Democrat, Kennedy said he has always considered himself a fiscal conservative. His first political ad in the race aired last week showing him picking up a penny from the floor and eventually putting it in a jar of pennies on his desk.