Posted on 11/08/2002 6:17:09 AM PST by randita
Landrieu, consultant part ways
Foster mum on Terrell
By MARSHA SHULER mshuler@theadvocate.com Capitol news bureau
Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu parted ways with her longtime political consultant Thursday as she faces a bruising political fight against re-election opponent Republican Suzanne Terrell.
Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Mike Foster shied away from an endorsement of Terrell, the state's elections commissioner, upset with what he called Terrell's "cesspool" campaign.
Landrieu downplayed consultant Ray Strother's departure.
"There was a difference. I wanted to strengthen our message, what we have done for Louisiana and want to bring to the state," Landrieu said. "For some reason, that message did not get out as well as it needed to."
"We are going to continue to run a positive campaign," she said.
Strother said the two had "a strategic difference of opinion in how campaigns should be run." He declined to comment on the nature of the disagreement.
"We will remain friends," Strother said.
Terrell political consultant Bill Kearney said the development is a sign that the Landrieu campaign "is in a clear state of disarray," while Terrell's campaign is ready to take off, heading into the Dec. 7 election.
On his weekly "Live Mike!" radio show, Foster said he will wait to see what kind of campaign Terrell runs against Landrieu.
In the primary, the national Republican Party came to Louisiana, threw its money and backing behind Terrell and ran a "cesspool" of a campaign, he said.
"It was a very negative race," Foster said. "I didn't like that the nationals came down here and took over the race and gave all the money to one candidate."
Several callers criticized Foster for not immediately endorsing Terrell, his fellow Republican.
Terrell "is what the Republican Party is about," one caller told Foster.
"The way you've approached this, you sound like a Democrat."
"I'm also disappointed in you for not backing Suzanne Terrell. We need to get behind her as a state," said another caller, Mona from Houma.
"I didn't say I wasn't. I want to see if the national Republicans don't put us through another nasty campaign," said Foster, whose Senate candidate had been U.S. Rep. John Cooksey of Monroe, who finished third.
Terrell said she and Foster talked Wednesday and will get together in the next few days. "I hope he'll be with us," she said.
Terrell said her campaign had nothing to do with the Republican Senatorial Committee television spots knocking Landrieu that Foster is irked about. "We did not coordinate with them," she said.
The senatorial committee supported Terrell and spent money on her behalf.
Asked whether the same type of spots would continue, she said "I have no idea. We have not had the time to sit down and even talk about where we are going."
National Republican Committee and Senatorial Committee staff arrived in the state to start helping Terrell, but she said she's made it clear that she wants to run the campaign locally.
State Republican Party chief Pat Brister said she expects Foster to endorse Terrell in the end because the governor "worked too hard to elect President Bush" not to want to send a Republican to Washington to help him.
Foster made it clear he isn't happy with President Bush and the White House these days because it's trying to derail the state's education accountability program he worked so hard to get.
Foster said he wants to see where each candidate stands on issues important to Louisiana, the top one being proposed federally mandated changes to the state's school accountability program.
"The nationals are trying to come down here and make us change. We're five years ahead of everybody else. I really thought the Republicans were about trusting local people and letting them make the decisions."
Landrieu said she understands why Foster would be upset.
"This is his legacy. To have the White House step all over the plan, it's not right. It's not fair," Landrieu said. "We are going to fight together if we have to against the White House on this because they are not going to scuttle our accountability plan."
Landrieu said she asked the White House and the president six months ago to let Louisiana go "an alternative route to the same destination. They keep telling Louisiana, no, no, no."
Top of page
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.