Moving Beyond ‘Vitter Strategy,’ Ensign Fights Back

• By John Stanton
• Roll Call Staff
• Oct. 7, 2009, Midnight

Sen. John Ensign (Nev.) used Tuesday’s weekly Republican policy luncheon to lobby his colleagues on health care reform — even as he faced a new round of accusations stemming from his affair with a former campaign staffer. But outside cloistered Senate meeting rooms, Ensign launched a very public campaign to defend himself and bat down calls for his resignation.