Vitter up 12 on Rep. Melancon in poll

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) leads Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.) 48-36 in a new poll on the Louisiana Senate race.

The Southern Media and Opinion Research poll, conducted for GOP and Vitter donor Lane Grigsby, shows Vitter’s job approval at 57 percent. That is less than Gov. Bobby Jindal’s (R) 64 percent but more than Sen. Mary Landrieu’s (D-La.) 54 percent and President Obama’s 45 percent in the state.

Vitter's numbers are on par with other polling on the race. While his favorability and job approval have remained positive, his "very serious sin" with a prostitute has softened that support. Other polls show while voters still largely approve of him, well less than half are committed to reelecting him.

Vitter led 44-32 in a Public Policy Polling (D) survey in July, but just 38 percent of respondents said he deserved reelection. He led 47-37 in a DSCC poll in May.

The new poll shows that while 57 percent approve of Vitter, less than 10 percent rate him "excellent." Thirty-seven percent rate his job performance "fair" or "poor."