Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) retained his lead in the Louisiana Republican primary, according to a recent poll, as his MAGA opposition remains divided.
A Harris, DeVille and Associates poll conducted March 13-19 but released on Friday had Cassidy in the lead with 45% of the vote, the President Donald Trump-backed Julia Letlow with 34%, and former Rep. John Fleming at 21%. If no candidate reaches 50%, the primary will go to a runoff, where the race is still close.
Flemming would fare much better if he made it to the second round, boasting 49% of the vote compared to Cassidy’s 51%. Cassidy has a much better chance against Letlow, leading with 54.5% of the vote compared to her 45.5%.
Unsurprisingly, given those results, Letlow had the lowest favorability rating at 42%. Fleming had a 47% rating, while Cassidy had the highest at 52%.
Though the poll released Friday had Cassidy well ahead of his rivals, other polling has widely varied. A BDPC Strategic Campaign Services poll conducted March 16-17 had Letlow leading with 29% of the vote, trailed by Fleming at 23.5% and Cassidy at 19.7%. Though 55.1% of survey respondents had an unfavorable view of Cassidy, 26.8% of respondents were undecided in the race, giving the incumbent senator some hope, even with the unfavorable poll.
Cassidy has been combining his positive favorability with a sizeable campaign chest, raising about $8.5 million in the first quarter of the year from January through March for his campaign and aligned organizations. However, Letlow raised approximately $8 million during the same period.
BILL CASSIDY RAMPS UP FUNDRAISING OPERATION DESPITE FACING TRUMP-BACKED CHALLENGER
Cassidy earned Trump’s ire in 2021 when he became one of the few Senate Republicans to vote to convict the president in his second impeachment trial.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-LA) took a stand in favor of Cassidy this election cycle despite the feud with Trump, risking the president’s wrath. However, Cassidy has complained that Thune hasn’t supported him enough, Puck News reported.
