I’ve often called [mc_name name=’Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’M000355′ ] “RedState’s Leading Supervillain,” and it’s not been unwarranted either, but… damn, I respect this.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Republicans have promised [mc_name name=’Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)’ chamber=’house’ mcid=’C001075′ ] a seat on the Senate’s energy committee if he defeats Democratic [mc_name name=’Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’L000550′ ] in Louisiana’s runoff election next month, potentially undercutting one of her main arguments for re-election.

Landrieu has repeatedly touted the importance of her seat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in her campaign for a fourth term representing a state with a robust oil and gas industry.

While she will no longer serve as the committee’s chair in the GOP-led Senate in the next Congress, Landrieu has campaigned hard on her place as the committee’s senior Democrat — and Cassidy’s inability to get a seat on the panel as a freshman senator.

But incoming Senate Majority Leader [mc_name name=’Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’M000355′ ] said in a statement released to The Associated Press that he will appoint Cassidy to the committee should Cassidy win his Dec. 6 runoff election against Landrieu.

“I’m confident Dr. Cassidy will use this position to succeed where Sen. Landrieu failed,” McConnell said in a statement touting Cassidy’s support for the Keystone XL pipeline and opposition to Obama administration efforts to place new restrictions on carbon emissions.

Not gonan lie, folks. That’s the first time McConnell has said something that brought a tear to my eye. Of course, Landrieu’s re-election bid is looking more and more like a campaign to nowhere with the DSCC pulling out money and the NRSC pouring more money in. Just last night, I saw about 20 campaign ads over the course of a few hours and none of them were pro-Landrieu. And, while the Democrats are looking to hold a vote on the Keystone XL Pipeline to try and save her job, McConnell has proven once again that he can win elections.

EDIT: I think Moe Lane makes an excellent point on Twitter. Also, 54 seats is looking pretty delightful.