Following the results of the Keystone XL pipeline vote in Congress, Louisiana's U.S. Senate race could end in the hands of Republican challenger Rep. Bill Cassidy.

Democratic incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu encountered a runoff election against Cassidy due to neither candidate receiving 50.1 percent of the Louisiana vote on Nov. 4. The Dec. 6 runoff election could be in Cassidy's favor as a result of the Keystone XL pipeline's passage in the House of Representatives and Landrieu's failed attempt in the U.S. Senate.

In the U.S. Senate, Landrieu's last ditch effort to pass the Keystone XL pipeline failed to secure one additional vote to reach the 60 votes necessary for passage. President Barack Obama, however, vowed to veto the bill if it reached to his desk.

New polling figures have Cassidy leading against Landrieu. Rasmussen Reports' first survey of the Louisiana Senate runoff election has Cassidy "comfortably on his way" to join the Republican-controlled Senate majority. With a 15 percent lead, Cassidy received 56 percent to Landrieu's 41 percent. In comparison to Rasmussen Reports' polls prior to midterm Election Day, Landrieu outdid Cassidy by 1-percentage point with 42 percent to 41 percent, respectively.

Landrieu's efforts to pass to Keystone XL pipeline may have stemmed from Louisiana voters' favoring the deal. According to the poll, 70 percent of registered voters participating in the survey favored the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline while 15 percent "strongly" opposed the pipeline.

Among the survey respondents who "strongly favor" Keystone XL, 78 percent favored Cassidy while 20 percent went for Landrieu. With the "somewhat" favorable to the Keystone XL pipeline, Landrieu led the poll with 54 percent to Cassidy's 40 percent.

With Vox Populi Polling, Cassidy won its poll with 53 percent to 42 percent for Landrieu. While most of the survey respondents were 46 years old or older, Cassidy appeared to have the advantage with the new GOP-controlled Senate as 40 percent are more likely to vote for the congressman, but 34 percent maintain their preference for Landrieu, while 26 percent said the Election Day result had no effect on their vote.

Landrieu is aware of the narrow battle with Cassidy and how Louisiana voters may not hold a favorable view of the Democratic Party. In a statement, Landrieu wrote, "[V]oters across the country and in Louisiana delivered a strong and clear message that they are tired of the gridlock and dysfunction in Washington. They want us working together for good jobs and the dreams of the middle class. I heard them loudly and clearly." Landrieu noted she voted against the Democratic status quo leadership, and it should be a signal of her "independent voice" on behalf of Louisiana.

Cassidy said the U.S. Senate's failure to pass the Keystone XL pipeline vote should have been a bill to pass six years ago.

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