America Rising PAC released a video Thursday showing President Obama discussing various unpopular liberal policies affecting Louisiana citizens, including Obamacare and a moratorium on drilling new deep-water oil and gas wells in the outer continental shelf, and gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards' support for Obama.
The video also included Obama's 2014 remarks that while he wouldn't be on the ballot in that midterm election, his policies would be on the ballot. Republicans went on to trounce Democrats at the polls, expanding their House majority and reclaiming a majority in the Senate.
"The fact of the matter is, I am a Democrat," Edwards said at the end of the video. "I supported the president."
"John Bel Edwards is desperate to mislead Louisiana voters about his strong support for President Obama but facts are facts, and the facts show that Edwards voted for President Obama even after he pushed through liberal policies that hurt Louisiana," America Rising press secretary Amelia Chassé said. "If Edwards was still applauding the President after the drilling moratorium and Obamacare, how can Louisianans trust him to protect their interests as governor?"
The question of how conservative Edwards is, given Louisiana's reputation as a red state, was a key subject at the debate between him and Sen. David Vitter (R., La.) Tuesday. Vitter told Edwards there was an "enormous gap" between his rhetoric and his record, while Edwards hit Vitter with charges that he was one of the least effective members of Congress.
Edwards is leading Vitter by 22 points in a recent poll in the runoff election. The two are running to replace outgoing Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is running for president in a crowded GOP field.