There will be no televised US Senate primary debate before November 3rd, the first time Louisianans won’t have a pre-vote debate in a Senate contest since 1998.
Senator Bill Cassidy says he won’t participate in any debate unless all 14 of his challengers are there. Political analyst Bernie Pisnonat said Cassidy dodging the debate is smart politics but Cassidy is strongly favored to win outright in the primary.
“Why would he go on television with someone that he is pretty confident that he will beat and give him free publicity? It is just not a smart thing to do,” said Pinsonat.
Cassidy’s opponents are headlined by Democrats Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins and Baton Rouge activist Antoine Peirce.
But are voters losing out by not having a chance to see the candidates go head to head? Pinsonat doesn’t believe so.
“Maybe Adrian Perkins voters lose out but Cassidy is already a United States Senator, his voters are not going to change their mind,” said Pinsonat.
There’s been little polling for this Senate race. The only poll that could be found shows Cassidy with a strong lead followed by Perkins, and then Pierce.
Pinsonat said the only way we would see Cassidy attend a debate is if the race heads to a run-off.
“That is a possibility that Cassidy would not want to occur,” said Pinsonat.
The potential run-off would be held on December 5th.
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