BATON ROUGE, La. -- After months of attacks about his prostitution scandal, Republican candidate for governor David Vitter is addressing the issue in a new television ad -- though without using the word prostitution.

By Melinda Deslatte, Associated Press

Media coverage surrounding Sen. David Vitter, R-La., has raised questions about how private matters involving public figures become news. A media critic assesses the coverage of the latest Washington sex scandal.

Although polls show Republican Rep. David Vitter holding a commanding lead in the Louisiana Senate race, he may not receive the more than 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff in December.