Now the mud-slinging begins in earnest.

David Vitter and Charlie Melancon have picked up the pace of each vilifying the other in recent days.

After Saturday's party primaries nominating each for their party's post in the U.S. Senate election November, the intensity will increase.

Vitter, the sitting senator, got 88 percent of his party's closed primary votes, sending Chet Traylor, 7 percent, and Nick Accardo, 5 percent, on to other pursuits.

Melancon grabbed 68 percent of the Democratic votes to win the right to oppose Vitter. Neeson Chavin, Jr. had 19 percent and Cary Deaton 12.

Vitter and Melancon will share the November ballot with candidates from several lesser parties, including Randall Hayes, who gained the Libertarian nomination Saturday with 62 percent of the vote.

In other primary voting:

Jeff Landry got 50 percent to land the Republican nomination in the 3rd Congressional District;

David Malville got 82 percent in the Democratic primary in the 4th Congressional District;

Incumbent Congressman Rodney Alexander had 89 percent to get the Republican nod in the 5th District.