Lt. Gov. Dardenne “Pondering” Senate Run

Buoyed by a poll showing him virtually tied with incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu (D-New Orleans), Republican Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne said Friday that he is “pondering” a run for Landrieu’s seat in 2014.

For Dardenne, long rumored as seeking the Governor’s seat when Bobby Jindal is term-limited out in 2015, the poll represents another political option.

The poll showed Landrieu beating Dardenne by a 46-43% margin, which was within the polls 4% margin of error.

“It makes you think,” Dardenne said. "It makes you ponder at least."

Other potential Republican challengers for Landrieu include Congressmen Bill Cassidy (Baton Rouge), Charles Boustany (Lafayette) and John Fleming (Minden), along with former Congressman Jeff Landry and current BESE Board President Chas Roemer, son of former Governor Buddy Roemer.

Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser has already announced that he will seek the Lt. Governor position. Nungesser lost to Dardenne in 2011 by less than 60,000 votes statewide.