Louisiana Log Jam {Novak Assess Buddy Roemer's Potential Political Comeback}

Robert D.S. Novak ^ | 04-24-04 | Novak, Robert D.S.

[Theodore R.]

LOUISIANA LOG JAM

The sudden interest in a political comeback by Republican former Gov. Buddy Roemer is threatening to deflate high GOP hopes for winning a U.S. Senate seat from Louisiana for the first time since Reconstruction.

Polls show Republican Rep. David Vitter leading Democratic Rep. Chris John, retiring Sen. John Breaux's handpicked successor, and Democratic State Treasurer John Kennedy. Roemer, an ex-Democrat who served a controversial hitch for governor (1988-1992), could change all that if he enters the race with better name identification than any other candidate.

In Louisiana's non-party free-for-all election, Roemer and Vitter could divide up the Republican vote and lose to a Democrat. With Democrats strongly challenging Republican-held seats in Colorado, Oklahoma, Alaska and Illinois, Republicans may have to take Louisiana to keep control of the Senate.

[Theodore R.]

Terrell and Cooksey in 2002 Roemer and Vitter in 2004

When will they ever learn?

[Bushbacker]

JJust another reason not to allow
Pat Toomey to blow the Senate seat
in PA. My political soundings
within the GOP (I am a party activist) is that Toomey can't beat Joe Hoeffel.

PA GOPers: hold yer nose and vote for Specter on Tuesday.

[Theodore R.]

I cannot agree. Having Arlen Specter chair the Judiciary Committee is unacceptable under any circumstances for conservatives.

Roemer's entry into the LA race may guarantee "general election" runoff spots for both Kennedy and John, but I am sure that it will not guarantee a runoff spot for the pro-abortion Roemer.

[The Old Hoosier]

No one thinks Toomey can't beat Hoeffel. It will just be a tough race, that's all. It's worth the risk to get rid of Specter.

[Lady Jag]

It appears Buddy is a Demo in disguise.

[Theodore R.]

Roemer was a moderate (but pro-abortion) Democrat representative from the Fourth District (Shreveport-based) from 1981-88, when he became governor. He switched parties in 1991, ran for reelection as a Republican, and the GOP "nomination" went to David Duke instead. Roemer tried to run for governor again in 1995 but was outfoxed by fellow Republican Mike Foster. Conservatives thought that they had heard the last of him, but he may be back.

[Lady Jag]

Thanks for the info; that sounds painful. How much was planned, do you think, and how much coincidence?

[AmishDude]

Novak is wrong way too often for my taste.

[Theodore R.]

Novak is not predicting two Democrats in the 2004 LA Senate general election: Roemer's POTENTIAL entry could lead to such a scenario. Novak is not saying this will happen: he is speculating, which is the wont of columnists such as he.

[AmishDude]

He's not called the Prince of Darkness for nothing.

BTW, I've got $100 that says Richard Clarke was the Valerie Plame leaker.

[Theodore R.]

Novak likes the term "Prince of Darkness." He thinks it reveals his independence. I think he calls things as he sees them.

[AmishDude]

Well, if he's so independent, why does CNN always have him taking up the space in the Conservative chair?

You can be independent all you want, but it doesn't do you much good if you're wrong as often as PoD, himself. Let's just say, he may be able to make an objective assessment of, say, stocks; but if he says sell, I'm buying.

[zbigreddogz]

I don't get the panic. It's a runoff system right? The chances of two D's getting to it are a million to one.

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather just all rally around one R too, might even be able to get over 50% outright if we do, but if we don't, is it really all that much of a disaster?

[zbigreddogz]

Oh, wait. I think I get it. Is he worried that if the R doesn't get over 50%, he won't have Bush's coattails in the runoff?

[Theodore R.]

Yes, that's part of the problem, but it is mathematically possible for two LA Democrats to wind up in the December 2004 general election for senator: Rep. Chris John and Treasurer John Kennedy. No matter what, I think Charles E. "Buddy" Roemer would finish in fourth place.

[Bushbacker]

"V"It's worth the risk to get rid of Specter."
_

____Music to Daschle's ears!

[zbigreddogz]

If two D's make the runoff, we have a problem a LOT deeper then anything that this deals with.

That said, it would be nice if he's not in the race. Any way the WH can backmail the guy out of the race?