LRN PM Newscall February 11

Qualifying for the closed primaries is underway. Andrew Greenstein is at the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge and has a look at who’s qualified so far for U.S. Senate.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

Former LSU and Neville offensive tackle Will Campbell plans to use his poor performance in the Super Bowl as motivation. Andre Champagne has more…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

____________________________________________

Qualifying is underway in the closed primaries. Among those who qualified for U.S. Senate this morning was Republican State Treasurer John Fleming, who noted that he was the first one to announce a primary challenge to Bill Cassidy.

Cut 3 (07) “…your vote? ” 

Fleming said in a still-crowded field, made a little less so following President Trump’s endorsement of Congresswoman Julia Letlow, he’s still the most conservative candidate in the Republican primary

Cut 4 (10) “…65-percent.”

Whoever emerges with the Republican nomination will not have a cakewalk in the general election campaign, as at least one Democrat has qualified. Tensas Parish farmer Jamie Davis says at the end of the day, everyone has the same feelings about what’s happening in Washington.

Cut 5 (09) “…tired of it”

In the last couple decades, Republicans have dominated U.S. Senate races in Louisiana. Mary Landrieu is the last Democrat to win a U-S Senate race when she won re-election in 2008.  and Davis hardly has any name recognition outside of far northeast Louisiana right now. Using a boxing metaphor, Davis says do not count him out should be emerge as the Democratic Senate nominee.

Cut 6 (10) “…a new champion.”

______________________________________________

President Trump has signed a bill aimed at stopping some welfare fraud. Senator John Kennedy’s bill, Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act amends the Social Security Act to allow the Social Security Administration to share the Death Master File with the Treasury Department so they can discontinue payments to recipients who have passed away.

Cut 7 (08) “…the checks.”

Prior to a temporary law Kennedy authored, the Social Security Administration said they needed congressional approval to share the master file of names of deceased people with other agencies. This act makes permanent that temporary law that Kennedy says saved the federal government at least Three Hundred Thirty Million dollars in improper payments since December of 2023.

Cut 8 (10) “…duh.”

Kennedy says he has been working to prevent welfare fraud for years and cited the 2023 cost of sending the improper payments…

Cut 9 (08)  “…dead people.”

_________________________________________________

It was not a Super Bowl to remember for former LSU and Neville football star Will Campbell. The rookie offensive tackle for the Patriots allowed two sacks and 14 pressures according to Next Gen Stats as Seattle defeated New England 29-13. Campbell did not speak with reporters after the game and on Tuesday he apologized for not making himself available on Sunday night…

Cut 10 (12) “…said anything.”

Campbell has received a lot of criticism for his play in the Super Bowl and he says it comes with the job…

Cut 11 (10) “…for me ”

Campbell suffered a knee injury in week 12 of the regular season. But returned for the regular season finale and protected New England quarterback Drake Maye’s blindside throughout the postseason. Campbell says his knee is still not 100-percent, but he’s not making excuses…

Cut 12 (07) “…I was healthy.”

Patriots coach Matt Vrabel says Campbell will get stronger and better and there are no plans to move him off of left tackle.