Primary results told

Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter and his chief Democratic challenger, Rep. Charlie Melancon, easily won their party’s primaries Saturday, setting up what will likely be a nasty battle for Vitter’s job in the Nov. 2 general election.

The vote in Calcasieu Parish was:

U.S. Senator - Democratic Party: Neeson J. Chauvin, Jr. (D) 754 votes or 21 percent; Cary J. Deaton (D), 592 votes or 16 percent; and “Charlie” Melancon (D), 2,308 votes or 63 percent.

U.S. Senator - Libertarian Party: Anthony Gentile (L), 23 votes or 29 percent; and Randall Todd Hayes (L), 57 votes or 71 percent.

U.S. Senator - Republican Party: Nick J. Accardo (R), 114 votes or 4 percent; Chet D. Traylor (R), 204 votes or 7 percent; and David Vitter (R), 2,708 or 89 percent.