Just about two years ago, journalists, prognosticators and strategists were writing Republican Sen. David Vitter’s political obituary. But, to paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of Vitter’s political death may have been somewhat exaggerated.
In July of 2007, Hustler magazine reported that on five different occasions between 1999 and 2001 Vitter’s number appeared on the telephone logs of the DC Madam, Deborah Jean Palfrey, who was charged with and later convicted of running a prostitution ring. Vitter, with his wife at his side, held a press conference in which he admitted committing “a very serious sin,” though he never elaborated. After apologizing to his Senate colleagues a day later, Vitter never discussed the matter publicly again.
Vitter, 47, was elected to the state legislature in 1991 and served until early 1999 when he ran in a special election to succeed then-Rep. Bob Livingston, who had resigned from the House. Vitter landed in a run-off with former GOP Rep. and Gov. David Treen, but eked out a 1,812-vote victory to represent the 1st congressional district, which encompasses three parishes north of Lake Pontchartrain
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