Posted on 09/06/2007 6:19:54 PM PDT by SmithL
Baton Rouge, La. (AP) -- Keeping speculation alive until the very end, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin opted not to join the Louisiana governor's race Thursday a decision that became clear only when the qualifying deadline passed.
Many in Nagin's city were surprised he was even considering a run, with more than 2 1/2 years left in his second term, a painfully slow hurricane recovery effort in the city and a gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal who has held a commanding lead in polls.
Thirteen candidates qualified for the Oct. 20 ballot, most notably the Republican congressman, Democratic state Sen. Walter Boasso, Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell and businessman John Georges, who dropped his Republican Party affiliation Thursday before signing up to run as an independent.
Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who beat Jindal four years ago, chose not to run for re-election.
Nagin had remained coy about his plans even in the final hours of qualifying, saying early Thursday in a TV interview that he hadn't made up his mind and was "having great fun with this." Later in the day, he said in a WWL-AM radio interview that it was "very unlikely" he'd sign up for the race, but he never announced a firm decision.
Nagin said in a statement after the deadline passed that even though he was not seeking the governor's office, he would continue to make the region's recovery needs a priority during the 2007 election season.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Awwww....
I was hoping he would
"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
LOL. My my, what a loss to the great state of Louisiana....
Maybe he was promised a cabinet post byt the DNC in any Democrat WH if he would stay out of this race..... (shudder, shudder, heaven forbid it)
“After careful consideration, I’ve concluded that I can best serve the public right where I am, as Mayor of New Orleans!!!”
[Wild clapping and cheering commences]
Think it through, folks...
Nagin faked a threat to run for Governor, simply to scare the Democrat State politicos into BRIBING HIM TO NOT RUN...
He knew a run could cost the State, big time...
He knew they would pay him off...
He was right...
I cant believe he would actually attempt it. He is useless.
First smart thing he’s done in a couple of years.
Not enough “chocolate”?
You gotta love the Dem party. Where else does completely screwing up a city during a disaster and then fleeing from that city and setting up residence in another state until the water recedes qualify as a resume enhancement that should make a governor out of a mayor?
party pooper!
I guess at the end of the day, “Louisana will not be a chocolate state”....
Maybe he was promised a cabinet post byt the DNC in any Democrat WH if he would stay out of this race...
yup...the piaps told the chocolate mayor that he will run FEMA!!!!!
I’m soooo disappointed. He would have assured a Jindal victory. Now that result is just highly likely.
He’s hoping for a VP slot on Bill Richardson’s Presidential bid.
*shudder*
On a related note I have decided to remove my name from consideration for the Papacy
Here's a billboard from Houston.
It would’ve been fun...especially with a band following him around.
Maybe he was promised a cabinet post by this President in his continuing fog about a new tone in DC.
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