Manchin: Energy states ‘dead’ without Louisiana’s Landrieu

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., would be the most senior Democrat on the committee if Landrieu, the current chairwoman, loses her race to GOP challenger Rep. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana. Manchin, D-W.Va., said that’s not good for states that rely on energy revenue, given Cantwell votes more consistently with liberal Democrats on energy and environment issues.

“She would not be open to the things that Mary’s been able to open up for all of us to try to have an open dialogue,” Manchin said on a call with reporters organized by Landrieu’s campaign. “Without Mary, we — and those of us who come from energy states like West Virginia and Louisiana — we’re dead. We are absolutely dead.”

Landrieu votes consistently with Republicans on energy issues. She’s a favorite of the oil and gas industry and she has often criticized the Obama administration’s environmental regulations. Only House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, have pulled in more than Landrieu’s $511,586 in contributions from oil and gas companies this election cycle.

But she is polling behind Cassidy in a contest that many are pitting as a question of whether Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., should continue to run the upper chamber.

Manchin said people from energy-producing states shouldn’t make Louisiana the proxy vote on Reid’s rule of the Senate.

Manchin said that’s because Landrieu would be valuable even if Democrats were in the minority. He noted Landrieu would set a more energy-friendly agenda with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who would lead the energy panel if Republicans win the Senate, than Cantwell would.

“If they take the leadership and Mary is still there as the re-elected senator from Louisiana, we still have a voice. We’re still going to be a balance,” Manchin said.