Republican David Vitter Battles Prostitution Scandal in the Bayou

If you find yourself explaining your prostitution scandal in a paid advertisement in the final days of a gubernatorial campaign, things could be better.

So it goes for Sen. David Vitter, the Louisiana Republican, who has long been a favorite to succeed Gov. Bobby Jindal. Last week, he woke up to face one of the most brutal attack ads in American political history, which riffed on his admission in 2007 of “sin” when his phone number was found in the records of a D.C. madam, who ran a high-end prostitution ring.

“David Vitter chose prostitutes over patriots,” runs the tagline. Vitter’s response was put on a couple plaid shirts and gather his handsome family together around a well-stocked breakfast table to record a spot aptly titled “Difficult Times.”

The message: If he could get up from a prostitution scandal to find forgiveness from his family, he can get up and fight for voters in Louisiana. If life deals you lemons, you do what you can.

John Bel Edwards is polling above 50% in the average of four polls conducted in recent weeks. The able handicappers at the University of Virginia rate the race a red state toss up. The run-off election is scheduled for Nov. 21.