Free Republic

The hottest race in Louisiana in 2004 will be for the U.S. Senate. With John Breaux retiring, many prominent politicians are considering a run for the most exclusive club in the country. Of course, Congressmen Chris John of (D-Crowley) and David Vitter (R-Metairie) are going to be strong candidates. John will have the unofficial backing of John Breaux and Vitter already has the support of Louisiana GOP Chairman Pat Brister. Nevertheless, let’s look at some other possible candidates: Ø State Treasurer John Kennedy. He is a conservative Democrat, and lives on the Northshore. Kennedy has aspirations for higher office and...

<p>Posted on November 10, 2003 Republican Bobby Jindal's campaign to become the first Indian-American governor in American history has touched a nerve with some Pakistani-Americans, who are lining up to support Democrat Kathleen Blanco of Lafayette in Saturday's runoff.</p> <p>The support culminated during an Oct. 21 fund-raiser for Blanco in Lake Charles sponsored by the Pakistani-American Business Association of Louisiana, which gave Blanco $50,000 for her campaign.</p>

<p>BATON ROUGE — Two of Louisiana’s past three U.S. senators have won elections the year after losing the gubernatorial race.</p> <p>If U.S. Sen. John Breaux, D-Crowley, decides not to run for a fourth term in 2004, a leading candidate could come from the ranks of this year’s losing gubernatorial roster.</p>

<p>Take an intimate look at Kathleen Blanco Kathleen Blanco: ''She is always the calm at the center of the storm''</p> <p>NEW ORLEANS - Kathleen Blanco is the quiet eye in the storm around her.</p> <p>Dressed in her trademark blue suit, the jacket open to the two-string costume pearl necklace she has used this year because it's large enough not to misplace or leave behind, Blanco is serene, seeming to ignore the undulating semi-circle of television cameras and still photographers whirling about her, some walking backward, others dropping back and swooping back around in front like birds fighting to be in front of a flock. Behind her is a mass of supporters.</p>

Democrats band to support Wooley Ieyoub, Landrieu, Odom offer support By PATRICK COURREGES pcourreges@theadvocate.com Capitol news bureau A trio of Democratic statewide elected officials stepped up Thursday to say Louisiana should hang on to Democratic Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley. Wooley, who faces Republican former Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle in a Nov. 15 runoff, called a news conference to accept the endorsements. Outgoing three-term Attorney General Richard Ieyoub, newly elected Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu and Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom, who's heading into his seventh term, all said Wooley has the skills Louisiana insurance companies and consumers need in the Department of...

Jindal’s New Ad Condemns Blanco’s Negative Attacks Press Release: After two straight weeks of attacks by Kathleen Blanco, Gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal today released a new television ad urging voters to reject the negative politics of the past and focus on the issues facing Louisiana this election. Jindal said, “I’m still hopeful that we can focus on the issues. There is still time for Kathleen to refocus her campaign.” Jindal went on to say, “Every candidate has the right to defend themselves against lies, distortions and half-truths, but we shouldn’t be distracted by the negative politics of the past.” Blanco...

<p>BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Democratic Party released a poll Monday showing Democrat Kathleen Blanco of Lafayette with 41 percent and Republican Bobby Jindal of Baton Rouge with 35 percent of the vote as the two gubernatorial runoff candidates prepare to meet tonight in the first of at least two statewide television debates, which Blanco plans to limit and Jindal keeps pushing.</p>

<p>BATON ROUGE - When asked how they will approach black voters, a key to who wins the Nov. 15 runoff for Louisiana governor, Republican Bobby Jindal and Democrat Kathleen Blanco said they have very specific strategies.</p> <p>Jindal said his message of a stronger public education system and better access to affordable health care will appeal to black voters, 29 percent of Louisiana's 2.7 million registered voters.</p>

Blanco, Jindal prepare for Nov. 15 runoff Staff Report Press-Herald Everybody loves a winner, as Bobby Jindal is now discovering. Phone calls have been flooding Jindal's campaign headquarters here, ever since the Republican won a third of the vote Saturday in Louisiana's governor's race. The leader in a field of 17 candidates, he is in a Nov. 15 runoff against Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who finished second with 18 percent. Jindal's phone has been "ringing off the hook," spokesman and Minden native Trey Williams said Tuesday. Businessmen, legislators, citizens, Republicans as well as Democrats - many are finding, suddenly, that...

<p>Plenty of theories have been floated to explain Attorney General Richard Ieyoub's failure to make the Nov. 15 runoff for governor. Most commentators have pointed to low voter turnout and a well-financed challenge by former Congressman and fellow Democrat Claude "Buddy" Leach of Lake Charles.</p>

Democrats target black voters on radio Blacks, women hold key to who gets into the gubernatorial runoff, analysts say John Hill Posted on October 3, 2003 BATON ROUGE - Democratic candidates for governor of Louisiana are slugging it out on black radio, targeting the 29 percent of the state's electorate who likely will decide who comes out a winner in Saturday's primary. "Anybody who can get a sizable portion of the black vote and put it together with white (votes that) he or she can get is on the way to the runoff," Southern University political scientist Frank Ransburg said.

<p>BATON ROUGE - Republican Bobby Jindal, R-Baton Rouge, increases his lead, and there's a statistical tie for second place between Democrats Kathleen Blanco of Lafayette and Richard Ieyoub of Lake Charles in the Louisiana gubernatorial race, according to The Times/Louisiana Gannett poll.</p>

<p>Gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal visited Monroe this week to outline his plan for changing Louisiana's image.</p> <p>Jindal, R-Baton Rouge, released the plan during his "Good Government Tour" across the state. The plan includes three main themes - making state and local government more open and accountable to the public, aggressively addressing potential conflicts of interest and responsibly managing spending of hard-earned taxpayer dollars.</p>

<p>BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's gubernatorial candidates are stepping up their messages, positive and negative, trying to sway voters their way during this single most important week of the campaign.</p> <p>Recent polls, consistently led by Republican Bobby Jindal and Democrat Kathleen Blanco, still show a fair number of undecided voters with mere days before Saturday's election.</p>

<p>Jefferson endorses Leach Congressman's support is a blow to Ewing campaign. John Hill Posted on September 23, 2003 BATON ROUGE - U. S. Rep. Bill Jefferson of New Orleans on Monday endorsed Democrat Claude "Buddy" Leach in the gubernatorial race, a blow to former state Sen. Randy Ewing, who had sought the endorsement.</p>

<p>BATON ROUGE -- Voters do not appear to be very excited about any candidate as Louisiana's gubernatorial campaigns head into the final two weeks, a pollster says.</p> <p>One possible reason: When Verne Kennedy of Pensacola, Fla., asked 600 voters in a poll Sept. 3-6 about their feelings about Louisiana, 45 percent said the state is on the wrong track and things are getting worse. And fewer -- 38 percent -- believe Louisiana is moving in the right direction and things are getting better.</p>

<p>Only five of seven major candidates for Louisiana governor are eligible so far to participate in a statewide televised debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters later this month.</p> <p>Among other qualifications, the league is requiring candidates show support from at least 8 percent of the voters in public opinion polls.</p>

Democrats Attack Blossman Blossman Sticks to his Guns "Cleo's Bus… Waste of Money" "I am not a racist, but Cleo Fields is," responded Jay Blossman, the conservative candidate for Governor. Blossman expanded by saying, "Cleo is the one demanding special treatment andfunding through the Urban Slush funds, only because of the color of his skin. Because of Cleo, reverse discrimination is alive and well in our Louisiana government." "I believe that race should have no part in our government today," continued Blossman."That is why I have proposed a Racial Privacy Initiative. It would end affirmative action, eliminate minority quotas and...

<p>Do you favor allowing the Louisiana Legislature to control the Minimum Foundation Program for funding public education rather than leaving control with the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education?</p> <p>Kathleen Blanco: I prefer the Minimum Foundation Program. It's what has protected education through the years. The BESE board has the whole picture.</p>

<p>BATON ROUGE - Louisiana Attorney General Richard Ieyoub has become a NASCAR fan in recent months.</p> <p>The gubernatorial candidate can't tell one driver's number from another, but he can rattle off numbers that show the nation's fastest-growing sport pumps a lot of money into the states that have NASCAR tracks.</p>