New Flash - McCrery to run for reelection (LA)

politicsla.com ^ | 03/01/04 | politicsla.com

[KQQL]

Politicsla.com has confirmed that 4th District Congressman Jim McCrery will definitely run for re-election. He will make a formal announcement tomorrow (Tuesday) in Shreveport at Savoie's The Catering Place at 10:00 am.

Insiders are telling Politicsla.com that McCrery hard-bargined the Republican leadership in Washington for more perks and future committee assignments after the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee did a full court press for McCrery to stay.

He will announce tomorrow that he will move his wife and two children to Washington in the near future.

More details to follow in Jim Brown's regular column on Thursday.Get it first by reading Politicsla.com.

[KQQL]

@

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

PHEW!

Not to sound pessimistic, but we could have lost that seat. This should be a wake up call to the Republicans in that district to prepare for the future. Now we only have to worry about keeping LA-03 and perhaps picking up LA-07 or LA-05.

[goldensky]

Good News. LA GOP has enough to do with Breaux, Tauzin and Vitter's open seats. They should convince Cooksey to run again in the CD5 against Alexander. Any word about who is running for Tauzin's seat? I think Jindal will be a shoo-in to replace Vitter. His age and his talents are probably better suited for Congressman than Governor (although he would have been better than Blanco).

[Clintonfatigued]

WHEW! What a relief!

[KQQL]

RE LA open seats:

LA 1 will remain with GOP.
LA 3 is a tossup.
LA 5 Rats will retain it.
LA7 Good chance for a GOP pick up.

[KQQL]

check here.

http://politics1.com/la.htm

[Kuksool]

McCrery spells relief.

[deport]

Now we only have to worry about keeping LA-03

---

That may be a tough one to hold onto.......

[Kuksool]

Has Hunter Down made any sign towards running for Tauzin's seat yet?

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

Any word about who is running for Tauzin's seat?

Tauzin's son, Billy Tauzin III, is considering a run. Also is former state house speaker Hunt Downer, who might be the best shot for us to keep the seat. He has high name recognition from when he ran for governor last year.

They should convince Cooksey to run again in the CD5 against Alexander.

Last I heard Cooksey was negotitating with Hastert for a prime committee slot in exchange for running. Given LA will lose some congressional clout, Cooksey could make a compelling argument for his candidacy.

For those who don't know, Bush carried all of Louisiana's congressional districts except New Orleans.

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

Has Hunter Down made any sign towards running for Tauzin's seat yet?

Nothing official yet, but his website is currently under reconstruction. That might tell you something....

[AuH2ORepublican]

Thank God! That means there will only be three competitive House races in Louisiana (which is still more than in, say, California or Illinois). I'm a bit more optimistic than you on the 5th CD, although I agree that Alexander will be tough to dislodge unless local Republicans stop all the bickering. Tauzin's CD will be tough to defend, but we should be favored, while John's CD will be tougher to pick up (especially if it goes to a December run-off in which Bush isn't on the ballow but Chris John is).

[Theodore R.]

What makes one think that former Representative Cooksey can beat the Democrat Alexander in District 5? Rural areas are solidly for Alexander now.

[JohnnyZ]

What makes one think that former Representative Cooksey can beat the Democrat Alexander in District 5?

If he's just going to vote like a Republican there's not much impetus to change, and not really a whole lot for us to gain by beating him.

He's had a couple of minor votes that could be considered vulnerabilities, according to the ACU key votes: opposing school choice in DC, tort reform, and the Cuba travel ban, but who in the district really cares about Cuba, or D.C.?

I think Cooksey could take him, as the district would obviously prefer a conservative Republican to a conservative Democrat, based on the general election results from 2002 and the runoff in which it took a perfect storm of idiocy to lose the seat. Working against Cooksey is voter reluctance to 'fire' an incumbent without just cause, something which worked against John Thune in 2002 when he was trying to take "Johnson's seat". Cooksey would have to reassert his own historical claim to the seat (which is a little presumptuous), pick a few issues to differentiate himself from Alexander, and work his connections in the district.

[Impy]

Dart tootin'. He's the only the Republican to have held that seat and it's been moving in the rat direction again after trending Republican previously.

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

Speaking of Rodney Alexander, I read this on lapolitics.com:


ALEXANDER MIGHT SWITCH

Washington sources say that Congressman Rodney Alexander, D-Quitman, is strongly considering switching to the Republican Party to run for re-election.


Looks like we won't have to put up a fight after all. Besides, as Johnny said he mostly votes with us anyway.

[KQQL]

Thanks for the ping ding..

We could use him....