The kissing congressman, Rep. Vance McAllister (R-LA), said this week he might not retire from Congress at the end of this year after all, as he said he would do when he was caught kissing a staffer on camera.
Politico reported late Tuesday that McAllister said he was “55 percent to 45 percent toward running.” He must decide by Aug. 22.
After the tape of his indiscretions leaked, McAllister’s office had said that he would not seek re-election. What changed his mind? According to Politico, a private poll released last week found him with a significant lead in the race to represent Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District.
McAllister also told Politico that he had apologized to his wife and God, the two most important constituents affected by his actions.
“There is overwhelming support asking me to reconsider,” he said. “It’s up to the people to decide.”
McAllister’s district is also the one where a relative of the “Duck Dynasty” family announced this week that he would run.
