Terrell builds big lead in Lafayette Parish

Lafayette, LA, Daily Advertiser (Newspaper) ^ | December 7, 2002 | Bill Decker/Online editor

[topher]

Terrell builds big lead in Lafayette Parish

Bill Decker/Online editor

Posted on December 7, 2002

LAFAYETTE — Suzanne Haik Terrell of New Orleans, hoping to become Louisiana’s first Republican U.S. senator since Reconstruction, was well on her way to winning Lafayette Parish at 9 p.m. Saturday.

Terrell challenged incumbent U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-New Orleans, in Saturday’s runoff. With 108 of the parish’s 111 precincts reporting, Terrell had 28,855 Lafayette votes, or 59 percent. Landrieu had 20,367 votes, or 41 percent.

Statewide, Terrell had a 52-48 lead with about a third of the state’s precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press.

Terrell, the Louisiana elections commissioner, had a big edge in absentee votes in Lafayette Parish. She won 2,051, or 77.4 percent, to 598, or 22.6 percent, for Landrieu.

Absentee ballots are traditionally the first to be posted on election night at the Lafayette Parish courthouse. The polls were open until 8 p.m.

The absentee balloting for the runoff was unusually heavy. Saturday was a clear, cool day for hunters, and during the Thanksgiving week absentee voting period, LSU still had a chance to make Saturday’s Southeastern Conference title game.

But turnout Saturday may have been lighter than expected. Lafayette Clerk of Court Louis Perret estimated early Saturday that turnout was about 40 percent, less than for the Nov. 5 primary.

Landrieu and Terrell won spots in the runoff by ousting a field of candidates that include U.S. Rep. John Cooksey, R-Olla, and state Rep. Tony Perkins, R-Pride.

A Terrell victory would give the Republicans a 52-47 edge over the Democrats in the Senate. The GOP wrenched control of the Senate from the Democrats on Nov. 5.

[topher]

ping -- Lafayette newspaper on results for
Lafayette Parish (almost all precincts reporting).

[BellStar]

Results for the US Senate Race:
Mary Landrieu(D): 398,639 = 52%
Suzanne Terrell(R): 374,938 = 48%
Precincts reporting: 2,753 of 3,912 = 71%



Results for the 5th Congressional District:
Rodney Alexander(D):81,410 = 51%
Lee Fletcher (R): 79,442 = 49%
Precincts reporting: 694 of 746 = 94%
Updated: 9:27 pm

[potlatch]

That's good news. I was at Drudge earlier before any results were in.

[potlatch]

Mary Landrieu(D): 398,639 = 52%
Suzanne Terrell(R): 374,938 = 48%

Oh,Oh, looks like I spoke too soon!

[Turbodog]

U. S. Senator
3,082 of 3,912 precincts reporting

457,309 51% Mary Landrieu -
430,787 49% Suzanne Haik Terrell -

[MarkT]

Actually, you are premature and maybe mistaken all together. Landrieu is ahead 50.5 to 49.5% - unless some big #'s come in from Lafayette and St. Tammany Parishes, then Landrieu wins another squeaker...unfortunately, that will make her all but impossible to remove hereafter.

[Budge]

Still time enought for those famous for voter fraud to stuff a few ballot boxes.

Sure hope Terrell can pull it out of the fire!

[sweetliberty]

It's not looking good. I can't take the stress of these close elections, especially when you know that if the fraud element was removed they wouldn't even be so close. As it is, I will likely never trust another election that favors a Rat unless there are some radical changes in election law and procedures.

[Rudder]

Sad news.

Just announced on local radio--Terrell lost.

[TheLion]

Just got the bad news...damn. There will probably be all kinds of rat fraud going on here. Remember the arrest warrent article I posted about Iberville Parrish?...Hope they fight this, if fraud is evident!

[Budge]

Remember the arrest warrent article I posted about Iberville Parrish?

Yup, I remember it. Looks like the rats pulled it off.

[TheLion]

"Looks like the rats pulled it off"....the DOJ has had plenty of time to get people in there and be around for this election. It can't continue to just get swept under the rug.