Vitter confronts his past with prostitution in new ad

Sen. David Vitter confronts his past history with a prostitution scandal in a new ad for his gubernatorial campaign after his Democratic opponent condemned him on the issue in an ad of his own. 

{mosads}“Fifteen years ago, I failed my family but found forgiveness and love. I learned that our falls aren’t what define us, but rather how we get up, accept responsibility and earn redemption,” the Louisiana Republican says in the new ad.

 “Now, Louisiana has fallen on hard times — a budget crisis, low wages, failing schools. You know me, I’m a fighter. And as your governor, I’ll get up every day to fight for you for a much better, stronger Louisiana.” 

In 2007, Vitter’s phone number was linked to the “D.C. Madame,” who ran a network of prostitutes in the city. He apologized for a “very serious sin” in the wake of the scandal.

But that issue has stormed back into the public conscience during his tenuous gubernatorial race. During the primary, his Republican opponents bashed him on new accusations by a blogger that he fathered a child with a prostitute.

State Rep. John Bel Edwards, the Democrat running against him in the general election, evoked the scandal in an ad last week that accused him of taking a call from a prostitute on the day he skipped a bill honoring veterans. 

“The choice for governor couldn’t’ be more clear,” the ad says. 

“David Vitter chose prostitutes over patriots. Now, the choice is yours.” 

Republicans hold the positions of governor and lieutenant governor, as well as both U.S. Senate seats and the majority in both chambers of the statehouse, so the party seemed earlier this year to have a strong advantage in the gubernatorial race. But Bel Edwards is currently posting large leads in recent polls ahead of the general election later this month.