However, in Louisiana, "a thing of value" is definitely not limited to money, and damaging information about an opponent would certainly be considered as such.

That said, statutory interpretation is a difficult thing, and I could come up with various arguments against the acquisition of such information being a crime. Like you said, the title of the act does seem aimed toward money or various liquid assets.

I think that in Louisiana, it would count, but what qualifies as a donation or a thing of value in my state is so wildly different from the rest of the country that I'm not about to form an opinion on the matter.