Noticed this? GOP Sen. David Vitter and his presumed Democratic challenger Charlie Melancon are already attacking each other in tv ads. "Primary? We don't need no stinking primary!" they seem to be saying.

Why? Veteran Louisiana political writer John Maginnis lays it out very well here.

As for the latest salvo: Melancon quickly posted this video shortly after this report in The Advocate newspaper in Baton Rouge, saying taxpayers picked up the tab for Vitter's troubled aide to travel back home for a couple of court dates.

How's the mud-slinging working for them? The latest poll I see shows Vitter losing support, while Melancon seems to have flat-lined, still down by two touchdowns.

So, are we excited about this race yet?