Posted on 08/08/2007 6:31:05 PM PDT by LdSentinal
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Wanted: Louisiana citizens with fundraising prowess, the ability to mount formidable campaigns only two months before an election - and Democratic voter registration cards.
It's apparently a tough request, as Democrats say they're having trouble finding people to run for two statewide elected positions on this fall's ballot, insurance commissioner and secretary of state - even though the Republican incumbents, Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon and Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, have been on the job less than a year.
"We don't really have anybody on the radar right now. That's not for lack of trying," said Julie Vezinot, spokeswoman for the Louisiana Democratic Party.
Democrats occupy five of the statewide posts that are on the ballot in the Oct. 20 open primary. But the prospects of hanging onto those five seats aren't assured.
Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco isn't running for re-election, and the front-runner for that job is a Republican. Attorney General
Charles Foti, a Democrat, faces a tough re-election bid if he chooses to stay in the race. And Treasurer John Kennedy, a Democrat with strained ties within the party, is considering running against Foti and has flirted with a switch to the GOP.
"This could be a difficult environment for statewide Democrats," said Jeffrey Sadow, an associate professor of political science at Louisiana State University-Shreveport.
While the South has become a region of red states, Louisiana has lagged in the shift. Though Louisiana is a conservative state, the majority of registered voters remain Democrats, as do the number of elected officials. But Republican voter registration has risen, and the GOP has gained a number of elected jobs, a strong foothold Republicans hope to further this election season.
Sadow said the state has increasing Republican proclivities that were hastened by Hurricane Katrina's displacement of thousands of Louisiana residents who were largely Democratic voters, including many black voters who make up much of the Democratic base for the party in Louisiana.
"It could turn into a long-term problem" for Democrats, Sadow said.
In a special election last year, Democrats couldn't find a candidate to run for insurance commissioner, and their candidate for secretary of state dropped out once he made it to the runoff, saying he would have trouble attracting votes because of the displacement caused by Katrina. Donelon and Dardenne won the positions and are on track to maintain the jobs easily.
Elliott Stonecipher, a Louisiana pollster and political analyst, said the problems for Democrats go much farther than Katrina displacement - and he said Republicans also will face problems attracting candidates. He said the increased partisanship in Louisiana, the growth of attack campaigns and political backbiting, voter apathy and the hefty price tag to mount a credible campaign has created a disinterest in running for office.
"Nobody wants anything to do with any of this anymore," Stonecipher said. "It's the simple measure of risk and reward."
Democrats haven't stopped looking for people to register for the statewide races. The sign-up period for the October election begins Sept. 4, and Vezinot said a term-limited lawmaker with a strong political background and name recognition could still surface for the insurance commissioner and secretary of state races.
"It's really up in the air until qualifying because you just never know," Vezinot said.
Check the whorehouses.
They find their voters in the cemetery, therefore, it doesn’t matter who they dig up to run.
Or the ninth ward
I love getting good news.
SkyPilot, you are the man!
Hmmmm... just like the GOP everywhere else.
That's because magnetron's are expensive and when they start going bad the radar screen shows the defect with lines of noise.
Anyone up for early-release?
Taint enough Chocolate down thar...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Democrats run desperate attack ads against Jindal
Thanks for that clip. It’s interesting that they’re going Democrats are going after him for this article now. They’re also twisting the article’s account to their own end.
Lousiana Democrats having trouble finding candidates
YAY!!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.