Pundits Say Cross Words Are Just Beginning
Terrell Claims Threat, Landrieu Claims Misinterpretation
POSTED: 3:28 p.m. CST November 25, 2002
UPDATED: 9:28 a.m. CST November 26, 2002
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The race for Louisiana's Senate seat heated up Saturday with an intense exchange and an off-camera remark that is getting national attention. Some pundits said it marks the start of what promises to be an ugly homestretch to the Dec. 7 runoff.
The debate was broadcast on WDSU NewsChannel 6 and hosted by political reporter Alec Gifford. During the 30-minute program, Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu and her Republican opponent, state Elections Commissioner Suzanne Terrell, often veered into personal territory.
Terrell: I think that it's very clear, that I am 100 percent pro-life. I believe in the sanctity of life. As a practicing Catholic, I did not leave my faith as did Mary Landrieu.
Landrieu: I am a Catholic, have never left my faith and have a wonderful relationship with my Lord and my savior, and it's just really the pit of politics to have an opponent discuss this in the way that she just did. Let me say that my opponent has had four positions in the last three weeks on this issue.
After the taping, as the two candidates were preparing to leave, witnesses said Landrieu told Terrell, "This is your last campaign."
Terrell replied, "She threatened me."
On Monday, Landrieu told reporters the comment wasn't a threat, but a prediction that Terrell's campaign tactics had jeopardized her political future.
"I just said that I thought this would be her last campaign because people have been commenting to me how negative her campaign has been," Landrieu said.
Terrell spokesman Bill Kearney said the comment was a cheap shot.
"People can lose their cool, but nonetheless, there needs to be a certain decorum amongst elected officials," he said. "It's a shame that as a U.S. senator, Mary Landrieu doesn't understand that."
Political analyst Silas Lee said voters can expect more of the same from now until the Dec. 7 runoff, primarily because the race is so close.
"This is a political soap opera at its best," Lee said. "It's unscripted, it's unexpected and it keeps everyone's attention because we don't know what to expect. We know that it's intense, and we know it's going to be very interesting."
New poll numbers are due out Tuesday. Meanwhile, for those who missed Saturday's debate, WDSU NewsChannel 6 will air it again on Thanksgiving Day at 4:30 p.m.
The debate was broadcast on WDSU NewsChannel 6 and hosted by political reporter Alec Gifford. During the 30-minute program, Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu and her Republican opponent, state Elections Commissioner Suzanne Terrell, often veered into personal territory.|
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After the taping, as the two candidates were preparing to leave, witnesses said Landrieu told Terrell, "This is your last campaign."
Terrell replied, "She threatened me."
On Monday, Landrieu told reporters the comment wasn't a threat, but a prediction that Terrell's campaign tactics had jeopardized her political future.
"I just said that I thought this would be her last campaign because people have been commenting to me how negative her campaign has been," Landrieu said.
Terrell spokesman Bill Kearney said the comment was a cheap shot.
"People can lose their cool, but nonetheless, there needs to be a certain decorum amongst elected officials," he said. "It's a shame that as a U.S. senator, Mary Landrieu doesn't understand that."
Political analyst Silas Lee said voters can expect more of the same from now until the Dec. 7 runoff, primarily because the race is so close.
"This is a political soap opera at its best," Lee said. "It's unscripted, it's unexpected and it keeps everyone's attention because we don't know what to expect. We know that it's intense, and we know it's going to be very interesting."
New poll numbers are due out Tuesday. Meanwhile, for those who missed Saturday's debate, WDSU NewsChannel 6 will air it again on Thanksgiving Day at 4:30 p.m.
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