Posted on 03/26/2007 7:38:57 AM PDT by no dems
While former Sen. John Breaux is deciding whether to run for Louisiana governor, state Republicans and his potential opponent have already begun the fight.
Speculation is mounting that Breaux (D-La.) might enter the race in the wake of Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s (D) surprise announcement this week that she won’t seek reelection. But state Republicans, and to a lesser extent Republican candidate Rep. Bobby Jindal, are already firing shots across Breaux’s bow.
State observers say this strategy is three-pronged: Give Breaux second thoughts about getting in, let him know the campaign would be bloody and start the public debate before he has gotten into the race and can defend himself.
The state’s Republican Party, Jindal and some newspaper editorial writers have begun a heavy push to raise questions about Breaux’s eligibility to run for the position, noting that he has been living and voting in Maryland.
Louisiana Republicans have already issued an ad entitled “Above the Law,” running in media markets across the state, stating that Breaux “gave up” his Louisiana citizenship. The ad also shows pictures of the former senator’s $3 million home in Maryland, declaring it was “paid for by the millions Breaux earned selling his influences as a lobbyist.”
“That’s why our [state] Constitution says Breaux can’t run for governor,” the ad says. “Breaux may be wealthy and powerful, but he’s not above the law.”
Jindal’s communications director, Melissa Sellers, told The Hill that Jindal is not concerned who will run against him, as “he’s in to win.” But Sellers also attempted to stoke the fires surrounding questions of Breaux’s eligibility.
“John Breaux, should he choose to come here and should he be eligible to run; or Hillary Clinton, should she choose to renounce her New York residency and attempt to run for Louisiana governor — it does not matter who’s in,” Sellers said, adding, “there are some obvious questions about [Breaux’s] eligibility.”
Breaux and Jindal have had a cordial, if not warm, relationship in the past. In 1998, while serving as chairman of the Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare, Breaux appointed Jindal to serve as the commission’s executive director. Breaux, for his part, has only issued a statement through his firm, Patton Boggs, saying that he is “seriously evaluating what is best for Louisiana” and that he expects to announce a decision soon.
John Baker Jr., a law professor at Louisiana State University and a Jindal supporter, recently penned an editorial in which he described how the law could prevent Breaux from running.
“Following Katrina, John Breaux registered to vote in Maryland,” Baker wrote. “He thereby ceased being a ‘citizen’ of Louisiana. Accordingly, he was dropped from the voting rolls in Acadia Parish.
“Unless the state judiciary completely disregards the Louisiana Constitution, relevant statutes and case-law, he has disqualified himself from running for governor because he has not ‘been a citizen of’ this state for at least the five preceding years.”
Baker said he wrote the editorial strictly out of a legal interest, of his own accord and independent of the Jindal campaign. He also noted that in his practice, he has represented more Democrats than Republicans.
“I’m sure [Jindal’s campaign is] happy and thrilled that I did it,” Baker acknowledged.
Baker said the case against Breaux is fairly cut-and-dry “except for the fact that this is Louisiana,” and thus subject to “the luck of the draw” as to whether a friendly judge might let the former senator run.
“Southerners … have this notion that you’re either one of us or you’re not one of us,” he said. “People kind of have a notion that John Breaux is one of us.”
Tom Langston, a political professor at Tulane University in New Orleans, said he questions the effectiveness of the early attacks on Breaux, because most voters are not yet paying attention.
“Eligibility is just a convenient stick that they can pick up and beat him with,” Langston said, adding that he doesn’t take any potential legal challenges “very seriously.”
But some in the state are not just hanging their preemptive strikes on the question of Breaux’s eligibility.
Breaux’s work as a lobbyist for Patton Boggs is another area providing fodder for his would-be opponents. Anonymous e-mails questioning the relationship between contributors to Breaux’s campaigns and those giving his son lobbying business are circulating in Louisiana.
Langston said these early attacks might not get the traction that Republicans want. He added that many Republicans in the state are nervous that Jindal might prove to be a “two-time loser” for the governor’s mansion should he face Breaux. Those Republicans, he said, think Jindal might have a better chance of success if he challenges Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) in 2008.
Sellers said that is not going to happen.
“He’s running for governor. Period,” she said.
Some Democrats, however, have taken note of early polls showing Jindal with a significant lead over Breaux. Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.), a longtime friend and supporter of Breaux’s, recently told a Louisiana newspaper that Democrats would need “a centrist, white candidate to beat Jindal.”
A spokeswoman in Melancon’s office said the congressman was merely relaying polling data he had seen to that effect. Langston said the only credible polls to date are those showing Blanco losing to Jindal — polls, he said, that Blanco was clearly reading before deciding to not to run.
Blanco’s lieutenant governor, Mitch Landrieu (D), who lost the New Orleans mayoral race to Ray Nagin (D) last year, said recently he would consider entering the race if Breaux did not, according to reports from the state
If Jindal wins look for him to be our standarbearer in '16.
I'm not that deep into politics, but this is a name I've e all my life, whenever the subject of lobbying arises. This is the big league.
I like Jindal very much, and he'd make a great governor. But I'm afraid that if Breaux decides to run, he's got it sewed up. Crooked judges and Good Ole Boy Louisianans will easily elect him. Let's hope he'd rather stay in Washington and lap up money.
I don't see how Breaux can legally run. The Louisiana Constitution states that any candidate for governor has to have been a CITIZEN of the state of Louisisana for AT LEAST the preceding five years. If Breaux has been VOTING in Maryland, then he has transferred his CITIZENSHIP to the state of Maryland.
This seems pretty cut and dried. Either you are a citizen, then you are VOTING IN LOUISIANA, if not currently living there. If you are not, then you aren't a citizen.
That's good to hear. Bobby Jindal is a rising conservative star who does a great job of enunciating his pride in being an American. He's also young. After 2 terms as Governor, there's no telling what's possible.
Yeah I think you're right :(
Why are we so damn corrupt???
At least Louisiana elections are fun to watch.
The seven justices of the New Jersey Supreme Court declared that the election laws didn't apply to Lautenberg when the DNC decided to run him illegally. And SCOTUS was too battered by political fallout from the chad wars to intervene. I think you'll find that Louisiana judges will do the same when it comes to Breaux, as long as their bosses tell them to.
Breaux will not run, he will endorse Mitch Landrieu and Mitch will run and lose to Jindal.
I don't know what grounds they used in NJ, but the Louisiana Constitution is extremely clear--not a citizen for five years, cannot run.
And NJ is probably the single area of the United States that is more corrupt than Louisiana.
"I think you'll find that Louisiana judges will do the same when it comes to Breaux, as long as their bosses tell them to."
I don't think Louisiana judges are that creative. It's really simple---if Breaux has been voting in Maryland, then he hasn't been a Louisiana citizen--no matter what his other ties to the state might be. Simply owning property in the state isn't gonna cut it.
I wouldn't be so sure. There are a lot fewer Democrats in Louisiana now than before Katrina.
-ccm
Nothing in Louisiana is cut and dried. Not anything. Not ever.
They just made up some nonsense, just like they'll do in Louisiana. They want what they want and they don't care how they'll get it.
LA GOP: "Breaux is not a citizen of Louisiani"
LA judge ( in his opinion) : "Obviously, it all depends on what the meaning of IS, is.."
"Breaux will not run, he will endorse Mitch Landrieu and Mitch will run and lose to Jindal."
What about this?
BREAUX: I'LL RUN FOR GOVERNOR IF AG OPINION SAYS IT'S LEGAL
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Former U.S. Sen. John Breaux said Friday he will run for Louisiana governor if the state attorney general determines he meets the legal requirements to enter the race.Breaux told The Associated Press he'll give up his lobbying job in Washington, D.C., and begin campaigning if the ruling is in his favor. He said he's aware that he would face tough attacks from Republicans but wants to be governor so he can help Louisiana recover from the 2005 hurricanes.
"I could stay here and live a very good life, but this is my last opportunity to be helpful to our state through public service," Breaux said in a telephone interview from the Washington area.
http://katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=6272129
Based on four interviews of Bobby Jindal that I've seen...he will be president of the United States within 20 years. There is no doubt about his sincere attitude. He comes across as a very intelligent gentleman. If Hillary does win in 2008 (I realize this will be a magnet for people to stomp upon)...the best 2012 candidate that we can offer is Jindal in my mind. As governor of Louisiana...he'd be ready to step up to the plate and young enough to attract alot of new voters.
Jindal for the Senate. Forget governorship, Bobby.
http://www.thedeadpelican.com/fotiletter.jpg
If this source is correct about Breaux's actions, the Louisiana courts pretty much have their hands tied---registering to vote in Maryland and applying for a homestead exemption on property there is cut and dried proof that Breaux has NOT "been a citizen of Louisiana for at least five years preceeding" a run for the governor's office.
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