The shutoff of Mary Landrieu’s ad money has taken its toll. TV advertisements for Landrieu are almost nonexistent compared to ads for Bill Cassidy.

Democrats Leave a Body on the Campaign Trail

By Michael C. Bender and Annie Linskey

Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu’s re-election race is truly running out of air: She’s responsible for a mere 4 percent of all TV spots in the week-old Louisiana runoff. Republican challenger Bill Cassidy and his friends paid for 96 percent of the spots that have run so far.

That’s a spending disparity unthinkable just two weeks ago when top Democratic strategist Guy Cecil estimated a runoff could cost $35 million on each side. Since Election Day, Mary Landrieu has aired 82 spots to Cassidy & Company’s 1,917 commercials, according to Kantar Media’s CMAG data. Landrieu’s ads are running in two of the state’s six media markets. Cassidy has all of Louisiana blanketed.

Just about the only place you can see a Mary Landrieu for Senate ad is in what C. B. Forgotston calls the “Paid Media”, otherwise known as TV and newspapers. Apparently, they have collectively decided to step in and make up the difference for Landrieu’s lack of money and will try to keep her propped up.