Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), the family values conservative who became embroiled in a prostitution scandal in 2007, has just won his Republican primary tonight, easily fending off a late challenge from former state Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor.
With 23% of precincts reporting, Vitter leads Traylor by a margin of 88%-8%, and has been projected as the winner by the Associated Press.
Traylor had called upon Republican voters to “man up” and ditch Vitter, citing such reasons as the prostitution scandal and his having kept an aide on his staff who allegedly attacked his girlfriend with a knife. But no such luck for Traylor.
Vitter now proceeds to the general election against Democratic Rep. Charlie Melancon. The TPM Poll Average shows Vitter leading Melancon by 46.6%-34.0%.
