BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rob Maness, a tea party favorite and political newcomer, sees hope for his long-shot bid for Louisiana's  Senate seat in the election upset of U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

He says the Virginia primary victory of little-known, little-funded economics professor David Brat shows that "message matters over dollars."

Maness is seeking an edge over U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, the well-funded GOP establishment contender, as Republicans try to unseat Democratic incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu.

But Louisiana's election calendar works against Maness, with an open primary that pits all candidates against each other in November, regardless of party.

Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Maness isn't comparing similar scenarios.

Maness has to run statewide, rather than in a narrowly-tailored congressional district. Pinsonat says that favors Cassidy among Republican candidates.

 

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