Louisiana senate race appears to be headed for a runoff

It appears the race between incumbent Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu and her GOP challenger Bill Cassidy is likely headed to a runoff, according to the latest projection by CBS News. Tea party Republican Rob Maness is running far behind, but he appears to have enough support to deny Landrieu and Cassidy the 50 percent they need to avoid the runoff. If that remains the case, the runoff election will be held on Dec. 6.

CBS News exit polls show Landrieu is getting very strong support from African-Americans (93 percent) but is running very poorly among white voters (22 percent). She is also getting only 35 percent of the votes among independents.

Landrieu is also suffering from the strongly negative views of Louisiana voter about the direction of the country and Obamacare.

Overall, Louisiana voters are very unhappy with the way things are going in the U.S. -- 70 percent say things are seriously off on the wrong track. Landrieu gets only 29 percent of these voters. Forty-nine percent are very worried about the direction of the economy, and Landrieu again gets only 29 percent of these voters. Forty-one percent think the economy is getting worse, and Landrieu wins a mere 19 percent of their votes.

Louisiana voters also disapprove of the 2010 health care law--56 percent said it "went too far" and Landrieu is doing very poorly (16 percent) among this group.

Landrieu is seeking her fourth term in a state that has been moving to the right. President Obama lost there by 17 points in 2012. She has done her best to distance herself from the president while touting her own credentials as chair of the powerful Senate Energy Committee in oil-rich Louisiana.

Cassidy, a congressman and physician, has persistently tied Landrieu to the president.

Outside groups have been so certain this race would result in a runoff that they've already booked hotel rooms for their operatives and reserved millions of dollars worth of ad time.