re: Cassidy staying out of the debate tonight on the largest TV channel in the state

This issue is relevant to two types:
Dem backers
Truly ignorant voters

The former tries to make a big deal about his absence for obvious reasons. The latter genuinely isn't informed or just doesn't get it. Laundrieu HAS to show, she's the longtime incumbent who's polling isn't great (to say the least). Maness also HAS to show, who knows what his goal is but he needs all the exposure he can get. The people that pump up either for showing up are pretty ignorant...they didn't really have a choice.