Vitter, Melancon Win Louisiana Senate Primaries

(NewsCore) - Controversial Senator David Vitter easily won the Republican Senate nomination for Louisiana Saturday as Charlie Melancon secured the Democratic nomination.

Despite a scandal-tinged incumbency including 2007 revelations that he was a client of ’D.C. Madam’ Deborah Jeane Palfrey’s Washington prostitution service -- Vitter was expected to win the Republican primary over two little-known challengers.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Vitter had won 87.6 percent of the vote, according to politico.com, easily beating retired Franklin physician Nick Accardo and former state Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor -- who was reportedly encouraged to run by Republicans fearful of more scandal.

In the Democratic Senate race, U.S. Rep. Melancon cruised to an easy victory with 70.6 percent of the vote, fending off his two challengers, Neeson Chauvin and Cary J. Deaton.

During a speech Saturday, Melancon called on Vitter, who has polled better than Melancon in recent surveys, to debate him before the election.

He also criticized Vitter for being "hostile to women" and voting against legislation on equal pay.

Vitter has been in the headlines after one of his aides, who dealt with women's issues, was arrested for attacking his ex-girlfriend with a knife.

Meanwhile, Vitter accused Melancon of being too liberal.

"Louisiana voters will get to choose between the current Obama policies of endless bailouts, failed stimulus, massive debt, and government-dominated health care, represented by Charlie Melancon, or the common sense conservative alternatives I've been advocating," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile in the state's first-ever Libertarian Party primary for Senate, Randall Hayes defeated Anthony Gentille, according to KTBS.com.

Hayes will be on Louisiana's November ballot along with Vitter, Melancon and nine other independents or candidates from other parties.

The tightest race came in the 3rd Congressional District among Republicans vying to be nominated in Melancon's House seat.

Jeff Landry of New Iberia won 49.6 percent of the vote, not enough to avoid an October 2 runoff unless Hunt Downer of Houma, who won 36.1 percent of the vote, concedes. Kristian Magar of New Iberia, got 14.3 percent of the vote.

The winner of the runoff will face Democrat Ravi Sangisetty at the November 2 elections.

In the 2nd District, veteran state Rep. Cedric Richmond got 60.5 percent of the Democratic vote, and will face-off with incumbent Republican Ahn "Joseph" Cao, who was nominated unopposed.