Democrat John Bel Edwards and Republican David Vitter will face off in the November 21 runoff for governor of Louisiana. Edwards and Vitter were the top two vote-getters in Saturday’s jungle primary.
While Edwards had long been projected to make it to the runoff, Vitter, a U.S. senator, had seen a drop in support in recent weeks as he fell within the margin of error against Republican challengers Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne. Renewed interest in Vitter’s alleged past use of prostitution services in Washington, D.C., and New Orleans, and his unwillingness to answer questions publicly, may have contributed to his struggles in the polls.
Last week, a local blogger and longtime critic of Vitter published an on-camera interview with a prostitute who claimed to have had a two-year relationship with the Republican and even claimed to have had a child by him. The Vitter campaign dismissed the interview.
On top of this, a private investigator employed by the Vitter campaign was arrested Friday, the day before the primary, for illegally spying on a prominent supporter of one of Vitter’s rivals, Dardenne.
A recent poll of the potential matchup between Vitter and Edwards found the Democrat favored in the runoff election. Both men are seeking to succeed Bobby Jindal, the two-term Republican governor who is currently running for president.
