Bill Cassidy in 2014 LA Senate debate

On Principles & Values: Agrees to one runoff debate; more if Obama visits

Landrieu initially wanted six debates, which apparently will only happen if Obama makes five trips to the state. It's unlikely the unpopular president will make any trips to Louisiana.

"The issue here is who represents Louisiana and who represents President Obama. I know I am with Louisiana. Sen. Landrieu would know that if she actually met with people instead of staged media events. We will have a debate and we will discuss exactly that," Cassidy said.

Landrieu wanted six debates so the voters could "hear the candidates discuss the issues." Cassidy's minimal debate appearances has been a persistent talking point for Landrieu, who has criticized Cassidy saying he's running his race through attack ads on TV.

On Principles & Values: No-show at Senate debate

According to published reports, Cassidy had agreed to only two debates--a Shreveport debate held a few weeks ago, and a debate in Baton Rouge Wednesday. Cassidy said he wanted to spend more time meeting voters, but political insiders speculate that he is playing safe by avoiding possible gaffes in debates.

Cassidy's absence also meant that it fell entirely to Landrieu's Tea Party challenger, Rob Maness, to engage in what has been the anti-Landrieu line of attack throughout the race: that she is a Washington insider who is too close to President Barack Obama.

On Energy & Oil: Don't pick winners & losers in energy market

But Cassidy sees things differently: "Mary Landrieu's most recent advertisements tell us a lot about how central a role she believes the government should play in our daily lives," Cassidy said in an emailed statement. "Her ad tells us that the government should pick the winners and losers and the politically well-connected benefit." Cassidy went on to say Landrieu's ad reveals that she promotes a "Washington insider system" rather than a level playing field.

The Louisiana Democratic Party shot back at Cassidy's claims saying that it's a lawmaker's jobs to create jobs, which is exactly what Landrieu's ad explains.

On Principles & Values: AdWatch: Receives ad money from billionaire Koch brothers

"Out of state billionaires, spending millions to rig the system and elect bill Cassidy. Their goal? Another politician bought and paid for," a narrator says in the ad, as shots of the Kochs flash on the screen.

The ad charges that the Kochs want tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, want to cut Social Security and "end Medicare as we know it," and "even tried to kill relief for hurricane victims."

"Cassidy's billion-dollar backers. They've got a plan for him--it's not good for Louisiana," the ad closes.

The billionaire Koch brothers have sunk at least $30 million into competitive House and Senate races since August of last year.

On Health Care: AdWatch: propose ObamaCare-lite plan in state legislature

And the Senate Conservatives Fund executive director took a shot at Rep. Bill Cassidy, the establishment GOP candidate for the seat now held by Democrat Mary Landrieu: "Bill Cassidy has rightly been criticized for his ObamaCare hypocrisy," the group's executive director wrote. "Not only did Cassidy propose an ObamaCare-lite plan in the state legislature, he's also tried to take credit for federal grants awarded through the ObamaCare program. All of this is making it harder for him to contrast himself with Democrat Mary Landrieu."