Landrieu squares off with Cassidy, Maness in Louisiana debate

Race at a glance

The Republican Party has placed one of its biggest targets on Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, who is seeking a fourth term in Louisiana. President Obama is unpopular in the red state and Landrieu has asserted her independence from the White House, noting she supports the Keystone XL pipeline. GOP Rep. Bill Cassidy, a three-term lawmaker, and Tea Party-backed Rob Maness, a retired Air Force colonel, are Landrieu's top challengers. Both parties are expecting the high-stakes battle that could determine majority control to go into overtime. If no one finishes with 50% of the vote, a run off will be held Dec. 6 between the top two finishers.

First take

The face off in Shreveport sponsored by the Council for a Better Louisiana and Louisiana Public Broadcasting was the first time Cassidy participated in a Senate debate, and he was on the spot to contrast himself with Landrieu while trying to assure the GOP base that he's their best candidate. Landrieu repeatedly stressed her 18 years in the Senate and what that  experience means for Louisiana, noting "sending a rookie to the Senate" won't help the state. Maness set out early to define himself as the conservative in the race who will stick to the Constitution and fight for limited government.

Landrieu highlights

Besides emphasizing her experience, Landrieu pointed out she's worked with three presidents and six governors of different parties as a way to show she's not the partisan her rivals make her out to be. Most of her attacks, however, were directed at Cassidy on issues such as disaster funding and health care. "All he talks about is President Obama," she said. "He has some answers to do for his own record." Another Cassidy jab from Landrieu, in response to raising the debt ceiling: "I voted for America to pay its bills. My opponent did not. My opponent voted to shut the government down, I did not."

Cassidy highlights

Cassidy, a physician,  is the Republican Party's preferred candidate. He sought to tie Landrieu to Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid each chance he got, particularly during the discussion on the Affordable Care Act and the impact of outside money in the race. Cassidy also dismissed Landrieu's impact in the Senate, by making reference to legislation she sought that didn't come up for a vote under Reid's leadership. "She represents Barack Obama; I represent you," Cassidy said, looking into the camera during his closing statement.

Maness highlights

Maness stressed his 32 years in the military and his experience in flying combat missions over Iraq. Asked about Obama's strategy to combat the threat from Islamic State militants, Maness criticized the president for "not defining success" and chided Landrieu and Cassidy for not pushing Congress to vote on resolution authorizing the use of force by the military. He voiced support for repealing the Affordable Care Act, calling Obamacare an "abomination," and taking the federal government out of education policy.

Fun moment

The candidates were asked to rate Obama and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican often mentioned as a potential presidential candidate. Cassidy gave Obama a "zero," and gave Jindal a seven on a scale of one to 10 because "he's taken some tough licks." Maness also rated Obama at zero and gave Jindal a five. Landrieu said Jindal deserved "barely a three" and gave Obama a six to seven. "He's had some really tough issues to deal with," she said.

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