DIMANCHE

Last updated 1:20 AM

Election Day is upon the Bayou State. We are once again free to gaze blankly into the TV screen, unbothered by the vile repression of that haunting music and sinister voice in attack ads. Live from this really comfy couch,  we at NoDef endeavor to join in the newfound liberation. Throughout the night, we'll have live updates on all the hastily-compiled results, ungraceful losing, misguided muttering, and epic entrance soundtrack choices as they unfold.

1:20 Some final (really!) wonky words

Getting off the comfy couch for a second provided a little clarity about the breadth of the landslides we witnessed tonight. Polls showed all three of the races we were following to be within single-digit percentage points at some time over the final week. But across the board, the winners dominated by at least 15 percent, if not more. On one hand, it's a sign that confirms our mistrust in polls. But the polls did predict the winner, so perhaps the number crunchers are more conservative than we think. Conundrum! And we said we wouldn't engage in rampant speculation...

Midnight Signing off

SDT is beginning to clean up a heap of wet campaign signs. That's about all there is tonight, absent rampant speculation about voters' intentions. We're going back to the DefenderLab to continue to develop our probe into Louisiana voters' souls. You know, so we can speculate scientifically. If only Sammy Kershaw were here to play us out...

11:40 PM New Orleans time holds true to voting habits

Even when it comes to civic responsibility, New Orleanians don't mind showing up late. This is, of course, probably because they're working. In the only decent analysis of turnout we could find, Clancy Dubos reports that African American voters followed tradition in waiting to go to the polls until late. Their heftly, late turnout resulted in more than 10,000 tallies for Richmond, and less than 1,000 for Cao. Richmond ended up winning 65 percent to 33 percent of the vote. Yet another landslide. 

11:04 PM Melancon forgets the concession part

Giving an address after losing is normally called a concession speech, But Charlie Melancon's words seemed to remain perched on the stump. Only the tone of his voice suggested resignation.

Serving up some Cajun country straight talk, Melancon didn't mince words as he opined the contentious nature of David Vitter.

The people wanted their pols to work with each other, to talk to each other...I can't say that that is the case in Washington. He alluded to Vitter's unwillingness to work with other Senators.

"I don't think that the 18 people that ran in this race other than DV ran for any other reason than they we all believe we needed to replace the broken part that was representing Louisiana," he said. "That's not sour grapes. That's just honest."

He then directly addressed Vitter's oft-mentioned "serious sin." He said the issue "wasn't about the indiscretion. It was about breaking the law."

Just as Vitter did earlier in the night, Melancon talked about the future of the children, and the idea that adults should set a good example and set their kids up to be in honorable positions in life.

"You couldn't be any of those positions had you violated the law, but ironically you can still be a U.S. Senator," he said.

Melancon said he planned to go to his camp for some "froggin', fishin' and huntin'.

10:52 PM Dardenne won't get fundraising breather

As Lieutenant-Gov-elect Jay Dardenne himself pointed out during a TV interview, he'll have to run for reelection next year, as his contest was a special election to replace Mayor Mitch. We smell rematch. But that also poses a pretty stiff fundraising challenge. He raised $1.2 million to landslide Fayard, which he'll probably have to do all over again. He'd like to talk to you. About an opportunity.

10:39 PM Richmond feeling the Obama glow

During his victory speech, Cedric Richmond seemed distracted. 

"I'm expecting a very important call, so I'm going to look down everytime my phone rings," the Congressperson-elect said.

Richmond was referring to a call from President Barack Obama, one of very few calls the POTUS is likely to make to new Democratic congresspeople tonight. Of all the Congressional races in the country, Obama only cut an ad for Richmond. But on a night that is seeing major Republican gains in the House, the episode felt a little 2008.

Moments later, echoes of a tiff between he and Anh "Joseph" Cao over who is better friends with Obama from a debate several weeks ago played in our brains as he seemed to rub it in a little bit.

"In fact, Senator Landrieu, when the White House calls, what prefix shows up?" he said smugly. 

As he was quoting Robert Frost, he fumbled his phone again.

"I think I just put him through to voicemail," he said, tossing his phone to an aide.

Richmond's comments were equally nationalized, as talked about what he apparently perceives as a new culture Uncle Barry ushered into Washington.

"It's not about profits. It has to be about purpose."

In a TV interview, Cao had a stark analysis of his loss: "At the end of the day, it was too much for a Republican to win an election that was 70 percent Democratic."

Cao said he's thought about teaching law, and, in a sign the spotlight might be wearing well after all, exploring other political options.

10:13 PM  Dardenne Wins

It's official in the Lieutenant Gov race. Jay Dardenne will run the state's culture, tourism, and recreation efforts, making both of the top state executive branch offices Republican. Political newcomer and Democrat Caroline Fayard spent a lot of money, but couldn't compete with Louisiana's big Republican trend. This is a classic race where advertising made it seem a lot closer than it actually was.

10:03 PM: Vitty Speechifyin', Stampeded

David Vitter tried to direct attention away from his past on the DC Madam's call list, but anyone watching his victory speech wasn't likely to forget. At the beginning, Vitter gave a protracted shoutout and hug to his wife, Wendy. It wasn't that odd of a campaign moment, but felt a little forced in the wake of a scandal that became national news.

At the end, TV reporters stampeded the stage, with one knocking aside the podium. They were quickly kicked off by the campaign. As Katie Moore of WWL was removed, she was asking Vitter what he would say to people who counted him out three years ago. Eventually, Vitter answered the question, saying he "kept his eye on the ball," and later refused to answer a question that referenced the scandal more directly.

The moment provided apt symbolism. The press and Charlie Melancon continued to raise the scandal throughout the race, but the more Vitter whisked it off the stage, the less it seemed to matter to voters.

Vitter suggested why he really might have won with the policy part of his speech, when he called for "an outright appeal of Obamacare."

9:40 PM Vitter climbing the mountain

No one seems to have cared about the DC Madam. Senator David Vitter is on his way to a big landslide, with a lead of 60 percent-to-35 percent lead. TV talking heads are saying the conservative turnout was way up all over the state, which also explains Dardenne's big lead. All 12 candidates in the Senate race received at least 2,800 votes. Maybe Maybe Mike Spears will have a taker for his steel cage match.

9:30 PM - Big lead for Dardenne

Republican Jay Dardenne, the state Secretary of State, has a 20-point lead over Democrat Caroline Fayard in the lieutenant governor's race. There's still no call anywhere, though. Dardenne had the odd job of certifying ballots with his name on them in one of the major races.

9:17 PM - Oozy effects less than hurricanes

An AP exit poll indicated 2 in 10 voters in the state were effected by the Big Oozy. About half of those effected said they've already recovered, though there's no indication what recovery actually means. Hurricanes effected 4 in 10 voters since 2006, the poll said.

9:10 PM - Richmond's Victory

Cedric Richmond's win sends an African American back to Congress from the second Congressional District. Cao's victory is likely to go down as a mere hiccup in a district that has gradually been condensed into the inner city. Cao won after Hurricane Gustav moved the election and former Rep. William Jefferson was indicted. Even though Vitter won earlier, it seems like voters around here have confirmed that they have a limit, after all.

8:56 PM - Congressional Race to Richmond

WWL is calling the 2nd Congressional District race for Democrat Cedric Richmond. Seems very early, but dem's politics in 2010. On TV, WDSU is talking about Joseph Cao being excited. Guess he's in for an awakening.

8:47 PM - Congressional race all over the place

Still very early in the Congressional race, with WWL showing Richmond up by more than 1,000 votes, Fox8 showing Cao up by a little less than 500 votes.

8:30 PM - Race called for Vitty Cent

NBC is calling the U.S. Senate race for David Vitter. He'll return to the Senate with confidence that any political problem can go away if he just ignores it. Cue Beltway insiders speculating on reasons Louisiana is weird enough to re-elect a guy with a lot of baggage.

8:15 PM- Location, Location....

In the U.S. Senate race, Republican David Vitter sets up shop in Metairie, while his Democratic challenger Charlie Melancon mans the fort in Baton Rogue. The Congressional candidates are within spitting distance each other, as Democrat Cedric Richmond is in the French Quarter and Republican Anh "Joseph" Cao is at the Morial Convention Center. Also, Clancy Dubos on TV: "The rain tends to hurt Democrats." Apparently Republicans were polled as more likely to own an umbrella.

8:00 PM - Polls Closed

Polls across Luzyana are now closed. As we froth at the mouth waiting for results, we can take in stats from election demographer Greg Rigamer. He tells WWL-TV that 40 percent turnout is expected across the state. He also says predominately white/conservative districts are turning out at a higher rate than mostly African-American districts. Republican voters comprised 43 percent of early voting. (VIA)

7:45 PM - Vitter Speaks

Vitty Cent bucked the trend of his entire campaign and talked to the press this morning in the conservative stronghold known as the Northshore. He told WWL-TV that Bobby Jindal's non-endorsement didn't bother him. "He didn’t endorse in any of the big races in Louisiana and chose to focus out of state, so that’s obviously his decision," he said.

2:00 PM - Voters Spotted Voting

As Barack Obama's oft-cited "folks" head to the polls that actually count, several local races remain close in the polls that don't. As they added nutria tails and blood from the mat of Mike Spears' steel cage match to give a little "Bam" to their cauldrons, political wizards remained perplexed by the race to represent most of New Orleans and some of Jefferson Parish in Congress. In the nationally-watched contest, incumbent Anh "Joseph" Cao, a Republican, was thought to be down (and campaigned like it, too!). But a last minute poll apparently distributed in the shadows by Republicans shows Cao and Democrat Cedric Richmond running neck-and-neck.

Meanwhile, in the Lieutenant Governor's race, state Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, a Republican, had a "lead" over Democrat Caroline Fayard. But the NOLA attorney was spending like she meant it up until the final moments. A drive around the Greater Treme/7th Ward/Marigny area today left this reporter seeing her name on everyone's forehead. But whether or not Fayard goes to sleep with visions of cultural promotion and the organizational hierarchy of the state park system likely depends turnout in Democratic strongholds.

We'll also be following results and entourages in the race between Republican David Vitter and Democrat Charlie Melancon, among others, to become the state's U.S. junior senator, and other local races. Wonk it up with us around 8 PM.