Trio vies for 6th District

BATON ROUGE, La. — A Republican challenger attacked Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Cazayoux in a Monday debate as too liberal on government spending, while an independent challenger criticized Cazayoux for failing to support his fellow Democrat, Barack Obama, in the presidential race.
Cazayoux sought to grab the middle ground, arguing that he’s the candidate who will rein in excessive government spending while also bringing money home from Washington, D.C., for deserving projects in the Baton Rouge area. Cazayoux said his centrist, Democratic approach is best for fixing the financial crisis and keeping taxes and gas prices low.
“The way that these big problems have to be approached is with a bipartisan, non-ideological, commonsense fashion,” said Cazayoux, of New Roads.
Cazayoux faces Republican Bill Cassidy and independent Michael Jackson, both of Baton Rouge, in a winner-take-all general election on Nov. 4, on the same ballot as the showdown between Obama and Republican John McCain. The debate was the only scheduled face-to-face meeting for the three candidates.
There have been no independent polls in the race — a campaign both major parties have infused with financial support and negative advertising. Both the Cassidy and Cazayoux campaigns say their internal polling puts their candidate on top.
Presidential politics played a lead role in the debate, with Cassidy repeatedly saying he supports McCain. Asked his position on funding local projects with “earmarks” in the federal budget, Cassidy tied himself with the Arizona senator.
“I agree with McCain. Let’s go ahead and have a freeze on federal spending,” with some agencies exempted, said Cassidy, a state senator.
Cazayoux defended himself against Jackson’s complaint that he has “waffled” in his support for Obama.
“Sen. Obama, I will continue to support him,” Cazayoux said.
Asked if President Bill Clinton or George W. Bush did a better job in the White House, Cazayoux said he preferred Bush on social issues and Clinton on the economy. Cassidy said Bush was better overall because he believes the Republican inherited the global terror problem from his Democratic predecessor.
Jackson said Clinton was clearly better for the Baton Rouge area.
“The Bush administration has not been a friend to the majority of the people in the 6th Congressional District,” said Jackson, a Democratic state House member who signed up for the congressional race as an independent.
Jackson lost to Cazayoux in a closed Democratic primary five months ago. Cazayoux then won by beating Republican Woody Jenkins in the general election. The seat opened up when longtime incumbent Richard Baker resigned to take a lobbying position.