Cheney to visit BR to boost Cassidy

• By SARAH CHACKO
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Oct 4, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Vice President Dick Cheney will be in Baton Rouge on Monday helping Republican congressional candidate Bill Cassidy raise money for his bid in the 6th U.S. Congressional District race.

Cheney is the highest political leader to make an appearance on behalf of U.S. House of Representative candidates in this election cycle.

But a spokesman for 6th District incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Cazayoux, who is running for re-election, and No Party candidate state Rep. Michael Jackson of Baton Rouge say the power of fundraising is not necessarily dependent on big names.

Cheney also will be fundraising with U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, around noon Monday, said Megan Mitchell, a spokeswoman with the vice president’s office.

Scalise is serving an unexpired term and hopes to win a full term in the 1st U.S. Congressional District.

Cheney is then scheduled to fly to Baton Rouge and attend the Cassidy fundraiser before he heads back to Washington, D.C., Mitchell said.

Cheney will be speaking at both events, but they are closed to the media and public at the request of the campaigns, Mitchell said.

“His comments are going to be on behalf of our campaign,” Cassidy said. “It is not a public event.”

Cassidy said Cheney’s visit indicates the importance of this seat in terms of national strategy.

“Clearly, the vice president and the White House think we can take this (seat) back,” Cassidy said.

Before Cazayoux won a special election this spring, the 6th District seat had been held for more than 30 years by a Republican.

Lewis Lowe, Cazayoux’s press secretary, said Cheney’s visit is expected “party politics.”

“Don could have voted with the Republican Party every time and it would still happen like this,” Lowe said.