Louisiana Senate Runoff Tied to Obama's Unpopularity

Cassidy's attacks on Landrieu's ties to Obama proved effective in the 2014 election

Jan. 28, 2026 at 5:31pm

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In the 2014 Louisiana Senate runoff election, Republican candidate Bill Cassidy successfully tied his opponent, Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu, to the unpopular presidency of Barack Obama. Cassidy repeatedly claimed that Landrieu voted with Obama 97% of the time, and exit polls showed that nearly 60% of Louisiana voters felt Landrieu voted too often with the president. Landrieu tried to distance herself from Obama on some issues like the Keystone XL pipeline, but her support for the Affordable Care Act and other Obama policies made it difficult to separate herself from the president's low approval ratings in the state.

Why it matters

The Louisiana Senate race highlighted the power of national political dynamics, particularly presidential approval ratings, to influence down-ballot elections. Cassidy's ability to effectively tie Landrieu to the unpopular Obama demonstrated the challenges facing Democrats in conservative-leaning states during the 2014 midterm elections.

The details

Cassidy frequently repeated the statistic that Landrieu voted with Obama 97% of the time, and exit polls showed that this message resonated with Louisiana voters. Landrieu tried to distance herself from Obama on some issues like the Keystone XL pipeline, but her support for the Affordable Care Act and other Obama policies made it difficult. Landrieu also faced backlash for comments she made suggesting Obama's unpopularity in the state was due to "Southern racism", which were criticized by Louisiana's Republican governor Bobby Jindal.

  • The 2014 Louisiana Senate runoff election was held on December 6.
  • An October 14 debate between the candidates focused heavily on Obama's job performance and Landrieu's ties to the president.
  • A December 1 debate also saw Cassidy criticize Landrieu's comments about racism in the South.

The players

Bill Cassidy

The Republican candidate who successfully tied his opponent Mary Landrieu to the unpopular presidency of Barack Obama.

Mary Landrieu

The Democratic incumbent senator who tried to distance herself from Obama but was ultimately unable to overcome voter perceptions of her ties to the president.

Barack Obama

The president whose low approval ratings in Louisiana were a major factor in the 2014 Senate election.

Bobby Jindal

The Republican governor of Louisiana who criticized Landrieu's comments about racism in the South influencing Obama's unpopularity.

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What they’re saying

“I don't trust this president. I think he is a very poor commander in chief.”

— Bill Cassidy

“She represents Barack Obama. I represent you. Do you want Sen. Landrieu to complete Barack Obama's agenda?”

— Bill Cassidy

“I'll be very, very honest with you. The South has not always been the friendliest place for African-Americans. It's been a difficult time for the president to present himself in a very positive light as a leader.”

— Mary Landrieu

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.