Mary Landrieu in 2008 Louisiana Senate Debate between Mary Landrieu & John Neely Kennedy

On Budget & Economy: Opposed $700 billion bailout; not enough taxpayer safeguards

Landrieu opposed the $700 billion financial market bailout backed by the White House and approved by Congress. But she also said that she supports government-guaranteed loans between banks and the use of federal tax dollars to buy stocks in banks to shore up the financial system: both plans pushed by the Bush administration, using the authority and money from the bailout bill.

When he was allowed to ask Landrieu a question, Kennedy asked why she now supports elements of the bailout bill: “What made you change your mind?”

“I didn’t change my mind,” she replied. “I did vote against the bailout package because I didn’t think there were enough safeguards for taxpayers.”

On Energy & Oil: Proud of expanding oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico

Kennedy responded that much of the billions of dollars in royalties wouldn’t start flowing until 2017, after thousands more acres of wetlands had washed away. But Landrieu noted millions of dollars already had come to Louisiana because of the drilling bill.

On Government Reform: I have delivered for Louisiana; send me back for more

Landrieu, meanwhile, continued to push herself as a centrist senator who works across party lines and has brought home billions of dollars in aid to Louisiana during her 12 years in Congress, particularly since the blows of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. “Send me back to continue to fight for you, to deliver for you,” she said.

On Energy & Oil: Member of bipartisan “Gang of 10” for comprehensive oil plan

Landrieu’s ad goes beyond any nuanced criticism from Kennedy, with an announcer stating, “He opposes her plan to open up 120 million acres for drilling. Under Kennedy, no new oil, higher gas prices, lost Louisiana jobs.”

On Energy & Oil: Voted against allowing exploration in oil shale in Colorado

A Landrieu spokesman echoed his boss’s characterization of Kennedy, saying the Republican speaks in generalities and has not offered any specific energy policy, drilling or otherwise.

Drilling has been a major issue in the campaign since Kennedy started earlier this summer highlighting a May committee vote in which Landrieu honored a request of Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colorado, to vote against allowing exploration in oil shale in Colorado.

On Social Security: Credit immigrants for FICA paid while status was illegal

Kennedy continues to broadcast an ad titled “Scary Mary,” a retort to her accusations that Kennedy would cut Social Security because he has endorsed the idea of voluntary private retirement savings accounts. The Republican ad states that “Mary Landrieu voted to allow illegal immigrants into the Social Security system.“ The statement refers to the Senate’s 2006 debate over an immigration bill. The relevant portion deals with what kind of Social Security benefits a legal immigrant might be due for wages the immigrants earned before they established legal residence. Landrieu voted against a Republican amendment that would have prevented immigrants from receiving credit for Social Security taxes paid while their work status was not legal.