Posted on 12/16/2003 6:09:30 AM PST by Theodore R.
Edited on 05/07/2004 6:55:11 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
WASHINGTON - Democratic Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana will not retire for another year, but colleagues, friends and political observers already feel the upcoming loss.
And, perhaps, Democrats feel it more.
"With Sen. Breaux's retirement, the Senate loses one of (its) most respected legislators, and I lose one of my most valued colleagues," said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. "I've come to rely on his counsel and cherish his friendship."
(Excerpt) Read more at thenewsstar.com ...
Many pondering U.S. Senate race
By CHRIS FRINKSpeculation on who might run to replace retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. John Breaux ran long Monday.
Clear declarations, however, ran short.
A long list of possible candidates -- currently serving politicians and losers in recent elections -- floated around Monday after Breaux's announcement that he would not seek re-election to a fourth six-year term.
None of those potential senators -- the ones who could be reached -- would declare their intentions.
U.S. Rep. Chris John. D-Crowley, has spoken about his desire to succeed Breaux, but said little Monday about his own political future.
"I will formally announce my intentions at a later date," John said. "Today we should be focused on Sen. Breaux and the celebration of a great career."
U.S. Rep. David Vitter, R-Metairie, is another politician who talked openly about running, but had little to say about himself Monday.
"It's definitely John Breaux's day," he said. "He definitely earned it with his many years of dedicated service."
Outgoing Democratic Attorney General Richard Ieyoub, a 1995 candidate for U.S. Senate and third-place finisher in the 2003 primary in the governor's race, has been mentioned as a candidate to succeed Breaux.
A poll commissioned by The Advocate put Ieyoub at the top of the heap in a four-way race with John, Vitter and outgoing Republican state Elections Commissioner Suzanne Terrell.
Between Dec. 1-9, pollsters asked 750 registered voters across the state, "If John Breaux decided not to seek re-election to the U.S. Senate and the candidates were (Ieyoub, John, Terrell and Vitter), who would you vote for today?"
Ieyoub finished with the support of 28 percent of those polled.
The other three were clustered close together. Vitter and Terrell had 15 percent and John 13 percent.
A quarter of those surveyed either refused to answer or said they did not know who they would vote for, while 5 percent said they would not vote for any of those candidates.
Ieyoub had support from 49 percent of the black respondents.
John found the most support from his native Acadiana region, where 38 percent said they would vote for him. Vitter did the best in the New Orleans area, where 36 percent said they would vote for him.
"My gosh, I'm really pleased with those numbers," Ieyoub said Monday.
Ieyoub said that supporters from across the state encouraged him to run for Senate after his loss in the governor's race.
Now that Breaux is out, Ieyoub said he would consider a run. "I want a little time to think about it."
An Elections Department spokesman said Terrell was out of state Monday and could not be reached.
Democratic State Treasurer John Kennedy, who pulled out of the 2003 governor's race early in the campaign and has money left in his coffers, said he would ponder a run for Breaux's seat over the Christmas holidays.
"I don't believe in running just because there is an open seat," Kennedy said Monday.
If he does decide to run, Kennedy said, it is because the nation faces serious issues including a growing deficit and an increased trade imbalance.
Republican Bobby Jindal, another possible candidate for the Senate on the heels of his strong run for governor in 2003, did not return a call seeking comment on a second possible run for statewide office.
During a press conference Monday, Breaux declined to discuss possible candidates for his seat.
"I think it's very premature to talk about running for this seat --I'm still in it," he said.
Breaux said he would not pick a successor.
"I will not try in any way to select or anoint or appoint them, since it's not in my capacity nor should it be," Breaux said. "Will I be involved? Perhaps. I'll have to wait and see when we get into the race, but I certainly don't want to try and select my successor. That's not the way it works."
Editor's note: Advocate staff writers Scott Dyer and Gerard Shields contributed to this report.
http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/121603/new_race001.shtml
BTW..what's the chance, if the numbers around the country look good in the other senate races, and the GOP realy wants LAS..that W asks Tauzin to run?...
I heard a rumor that Tauzin is stepping down to take Jack Valenti's spot as head of the Motion Picture Association of America. Probably the most lucrative lobbying post in the country.
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