Louisiana Rep. Bill Cassidy, a Republican trying to unseat Democrat Sen. Mary Landrieu in the state's runoff election, released a campaign ad Monday saying he will fight President Barack Obama's immigration plan.
The ad starts with a clip of Obama talking about his
plans to grant amnesty to as many as 5 million illegal immigrants currently living in the United States.
"Before the end of the year, we're gonna take whatever lawful actions that I can take," Obama says.
Cassidy then cuts in and says he will "stop Obama."
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"That's Barack Obama promising executive amnesty for millions here illegally," Cassidy says. "We must stop Obama. As your senator, I will fight his amnesty plan. Your tax dollars should benefit you, not those here illegally.
"Remember, Mary Landrieu, Barack Obama, 97 percent. I'll stand up to Obama."
Cassidy's reference to "97 percent" was accompanied by a graphic on the screen that said Landrieu had voted in support of Obama's legislative initiatives 97 percent of the time.
Cassidy is locked in a close battle with Landrieu. As part of Louisiana election law, the race will be decided in a runoff election scheduled for Dec. 6 because no candidate in the race received at least 50 percent of the votes on Nov. 4.
Landrieu earned 42 percent of the voters' support on election day, compared to 41 percent for Cassidy, but a
recent poll shows Cassidy holding a 16-point lead heading into the runoff.
Should Cassidy win, Republicans will increase their majority in the Senate to 54 seats. A victory would also give him a seat on the Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee, of which Landrieu is currently the chairwoman.
With the GOP taking control of the Senate, however, Landrieu will lose her spot on the committee in January when the new Congress is sworn in.