David Duke gets debate slot in La. Senate race

Former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke is polling high enough to earn a spot in the final televised debate of Louisiana’s crowded Senate race.

The last debate of the “jungle primary” to replace outgoing Sen. David Vitter (R) is set for Nov. 2 at New Orleans’s historically black Dillard University.

{mosads}“That’s amazing,” Duke, a former one-term member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, said upon learning of his invitation, according to The Advocate of Baton Rouge.

Duke said he plans on participating in the debate but has concerns about security due to his views on race.

“Dillard is pretty supportive of Black Lives Matter, and I’ve been pretty critical of them,” he said.

A WAFB/Raycom Media poll out Thursday found Duke squeaked past the 5 percent threshold necessary for debate participation.

Louisiana state Treasurer John Kennedy (R) took first in the survey with 24 percent, 5 points above his nearest competition. He is followed by Foster Campbell, a Democratic member of the Public Service Commission, who received 19 percent.

New Orleans attorney Caroline Fayard (D) and GOP Reps. Charles Boustany and John Fleming then tied for third, at 11 percent apiece.

Twenty-four candidates are vying to replace Vitter, who is stepping down amid a prostitution scandal. The top two candidates on Election Day will advance to a runoff vote scheduled for Dec. 10.

Boustany, Campbell, Fayard, Fleming and Kennedy met in the first televised Louisiana Senate debate late Tuesday at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston.

Duke attracted national headlines after endorsing GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump earlier this year. Trump ultimately disavowed Duke’s support after widespread backlash.