Louisiana Gubernatorial Candidates Still Arguing over Ads, not Issues

Shreveport, LA, Times ^ | 11-05-03 | Staff

[Theodore R.]

Gubernatorial candidates still arguing over ads, not issues Louisiana Gannett News Posted on November 5, 2003 BATON ROUGE - Democrat Kathleen Blanco of Lafayette has retreated from allegations that gubernatorial rival Bobby Jindal of Baton Rouge and a "Republican truth squad" aired television commercials attacking her.

[Theodore R.]

The press keeps calling the Nov. 15 contest "a runoff," but it is the official Louisiana "general election," under the Edwin Washington Edwards "jungle primary" law of 1975.

[Brandon]

When they debated Sunday, the two gubernatorial candidates agreed to stop running ads that mention their opponents by name.

I have never understood why saying something directly about your opponent is such a Bad Thing, as long as it is truthful and as long as it is relevant to the office you are both running for. To me, "negative campaigning" means telling outright lies, or attacking your opponent because he's ugly and his mother dresses him funny. But how on Earth can voters make an informed choice, if the candidates aren't allowed to make direct comparisons between themselves and their opponents?

[donozark]

So what's your call? Jindal? Blanco? By how much of a %?

[Theodore R.]

This may be Jindal's most costly error to date in an otherwise essentially error-free campaign on his part. By agreeing not to mention Blanco by name, he is giving up valuable ammunition that he needs in an institutional and traditional Democrat state. LA people cannot understand issues without them being clearly explained.

[Theodore R.]

It would seem that "momentum" began with Jindal since Labor Day. He started out dividing a four-way Republican field, and Republicans are only 34 percent of LA registered voters. Yet he essentially forced out all the other Republican hopefuls.

Still, the institutions of LA strongly favor Blanco. Blanco may be able to win on the basis of the fervor of her key supporters, Senators Breaux and Landrieu. In fact, she seems to be running a poor campaign. But in LA the institutional candidate has the advantage. People vote as John Breaux and others tell them.

I would give it to Blanco, 52-48, the same rate as Landrieu over Terrell. Still, it is obvious that Jindal is a much better campaigner than was Terrell, who took a nap on election day on Dec. 7, 2002. There may be some North LA whites who vote for Blanco because they see Jindal as "black," instead of Asian.

Jindal's youth will also hurt him. I don't think anyone in living memory has been elected governor of LA while in his thirties -- and early thirties at that.

[donozark]

Ok. Thanks for your opinion. I fear the New Orleans Democrat "machine" will see to it that Jindal loses by the required margin. Just as is done in St.Louis,etal. Perhaps another visit by GWB will bring out the vote. Also, my understanding is that Blanco is an "anti," whereas Jindal is pro-RKBA. If so, NRA is sure to do a mailing or two in support of Jindal. But I doubt if much can be done to overcome the New Orleans "advantage."

[Theodore R.]

One of the things hurting Jindal is that Blanco leads in nearly every parish next to the AR border from Caddo (Shreveport) to East Carroll (Lake Providence, a heavily black area with a large welfare clientele). It's not just New Orleans, it's the less urban parish of North LA that are hurting Jindal. Jindal will hold Bossier Parish and probably the small Union Parish, but he could lose the rest of North LA.

[cajungirl]

Interesting thing,,Blanco made a huge boo boo..she accused a mythical group, the Truth Squad of repubs of making a neg ad about her. Jindal replied immediately it wasn't so, she back tracked, lied some more and finally just sort of flaked away in evasion. She looked terrible. I thought she would win, like Mary, but am rethinking. I think Jindal has a good shot at it. Blanco comes across as everyone's fantasy second grade teacher, overweight, over perfumed, critical and with that unattractive over manicured southern middle age woman look. Now don't get me wrong, I am an older southern woman but I know that look and it is like nails on a chalkboard to southern men. I think Jindal will pull it out.

[cajungirl]

PLus, my hairdresser, who accurately predicts every louisiana election, tells me that men will vote for Jindal over Blanco even though they see Jindal as black , the hangover from racism, because they cannot abide a woman running things. I don't know but she is always right altho a little heavy on the gel sometimes and at times her hair dying skills aren't so great.

[Theodore R.]

GWB and GHWB did little to help Terrell in 2002 though they made generous efforts. In fact, it was widely thought that the national administration entering the Senate race worked to the advantage of Landrieu and her chief cheerleader, Sen. John Breaux, who woudl be given the status of nobility were a state allowed to issue titles of nobility. Fortunately, the U.S. Constitution forbids such, but that prohibition does not include being knighted by the King or Queen of England. People really believe in Breaux, and when he says "Blanco," many will reply accordingly.

[Theodore R.]

No, men have already voted for Mary Landrieu for treasurer and senator, Melinda Schwegmann and Blanco for lieutenant governor, Mary Evelyn Parker for treasurer, and a few other women too. It's not so much the sex of the candidate, but whether a voter is "independent" or "institutionally" obligated.

It's the INSTITUTIONS of LA politics that matter.

[donozark]

I thought for a moment you were describing my girlfriend(s)!

Seriously, I just don't know if Jindal can pull it out vs. the New Orleans gang. I would of course hope so. But...

[cajungirl]

You are right but those women were in secondary roles,,even Mary, a senator, was regarded as the daughter of her dad and the protege of Breaux. Being governor ,,I don't think men here will vote for Blanco.

[donozark]

Something did happen to Terrell toward the end. She seemed tired-and I am sure she was. But it gave the appearence of disinterest, at least from up here in these 'ol hills. While GWB couldn't help her, I believe there was conflict between her and Gov. Foster. NRA helped considerably to get him elected.

Breaux seems like a decent sort of fellow, for a Dem. Little if any hint of scandal,etc. He is plugged in to "po folks" as well as big oil. Basically, nothing gets done in LA unless he says so-at least where oil is concerned. Even Evita accords him a certain respect.But he, like other Dems, may be weary of being in the minority.

He is thought to be planning to step down. Sure he has a "job" waiting if he wants it.

Just curious-which oil company is KING in LA?

[ken5050]

I caught a little bit of the debate when C-span rebroadcast it....Blanco looks tired, and almost incoherent..she had to read her questions, and her answers....kept looking down at her crib sheets...Bobby, by comparison, looks young, exiting....vigorous..lots of good ideas.....buit I have two questions for ya, if I might....she kept referring to him as "Bobby"....to my admittedly nothern ear, it sounded kind of patronizing..like she was talking to a student...it that intentional..or just southern style?...also,,does Jindal always talk soooooo fast....I had trouble understanding him, and down there folks talk much slower...

[Theodore R.]

I think Tim Russert asked that same question to David Duke in 1991, and incredibly he did not know.

I know there is (was) an Ethyl Oil in Baton Rouge, but I have no idea what is the largest company. It may be a slew of smaller companies still in the state. I think quite a few have gone under in the past 25 years. Aren't quite a few still operating out in the sea?

[Theodore R.]

I checked the records, and there is no Ethyl Oil still listed. The companies listed are largely unknown:

Stone Energy
Brock Exploration
Energy Partners
McDermott International
McMoRan Exploration
PetroQuest
XCL, Ltd.

There were others too, but I had not heard of any of the names.

[Theodore R.]

Breaux is reportedly set to form his own "bipartisan" consulting firm with retiring Sen. Don Nickles, R-OK, once they both retire effective Jan. 3, 2005.

[cajungirl]

Bobby is his name he took in like first grade. His real first name is Piyush or something like that. He came home from schol and told him mother he was now Bobby and fool that she was, she did not insist on Robert. And he does talke fast, he jokes about it but does nothing to talk slower that I can see,,it is not a southern trait. I talked fast as a child, I guess some can't help it. I will vote for him but, Dont anyone flame me for saying so, he does come across as too young and somewhat callow. He is very smart, has never run for anything and while having big appointed jobs hasn't been at any long. Mike Foster likes him and I think he is being groomed for bigger things ,,don't know if he can mature enough to get them. He is a converted Catholic, family are immigrants, smart people, home grown, Baton Rouge likes him.

[cajungirl]

Petrochem is big. Exxon is big, has been in Baton Rouge since 1918 I think with big expansion in the early forties. Ethyl was an old company, don't know who bought it. Dow is here, Novartis, Agrico, Freeport McMoran,,,lots of oil related businesses, fertilizers, chems.