"If Blanco wins reelection, Louisianna will be a lost cause for another generation."
The New Orleans Mayoral election is also extremely important. Many inside and outside our State are paying real close attention to our Local and State politics as it would indicate either a change for the better or business as usual. Lousiana and/or New Orleans cannot afford "business as usual." If this area ever proceeds with Pro-growth, Pro-business leadership - watch out!, we are headed for great things. However, if politics remain status quo your above prediction is right on the money.
If Blanco wins reelection, Louisianna will be a lost cause for another generation.
That strikes me as overreaction. Heck, Vitter won the U.S. Senate seat, Bush carried the state -- electoral fortunes rise and fall. Indeed, I would be shocked if one party won every election for governor for the next generation -- I'm guessing that's about 32 years.
My recollection is that Jindal did rather well in South Louisiana, and somewhat poorly for a Republican in the northern part of the state. Now Blanco has shown herself to be a rather poor administrator -- something that she argued Jindal would be -- so perhaps minds have been changed.
It would be unreasonable to expect a 50 point lead in the polls.
Now those of South Louisiana that have left -- were they Blanco supporters as opposed to those who have returned? My guess is that they are -- but I don't really know.