Cheney, Foster Campaign for Terrell in LA Senate Race

Cheney visits LA to aid candidates Terrell, Fletcher campaigns gain financial support Mike Hasten

LAFAYETTE - With the help of Vice President Dick Cheney and Gov. Mike Foster, Republican senatorial contender Suzanne Haik Terrell picked up about a quarter-million dollars at a rally here Monday to finance her runoff campaign.

Terrell hopes to unseat incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat, in the Dec. 7 runoff, and Cheney swept through Louisiana on Monday to lend support to Terrell and to 5th Congressional District candidate Lee Fletcher, R-Monroe. Cheney's first stop, earlier Monday, was in Monroe.

Republican leaders are counting on support from President George W. Bush and his administration to draw the votes of conservative Democrats, particularly in Terrell's statewide race. Terrell secured 26 percent of the vote in a primary election in which she shared Republican votes with two other major GOP candidates.

"She is a proven leader that embodies Louisiana's values, Cheney told an enthusiastic crowd of more than 200 people who paid a minimum of $1,000 each to attend a rally at the City Club here late Monday. Some paid as much as $5,000. In Monroe, Cheney's efforts to boost Terrell and Fletcher raised about $200,000 for Fletcher, according to his campaign staff.

"It got down to election day in November and I thought all the excitement was over. Then I saw Louisiana," he said, prompting cheers and applause.

"It's great to be back in Louisiana," he said. "I'm here for one exclusive reason - to make sure Suzie Terrell is the next Louisiana senator. The people of Louisiana have not had a Republican senator in over a century. In December, Louisiana will make history."

Cheney said Louisiana would be better served by having a Republican senator serving with Democratic Sen. John Breaux.

"There's no doubt in my mind Louisiana and America would be better served with a senator who knows how to lead," he said.

"I know I speak for each of you when I say this administration's steady and deliberate leadership has been and will be a comfort to all of us," she said. "Our country is in great hands." And, she added, "it's humbling to have the support of the administration."

Addressing Monroe Republicans, Cheney devoted most of his talk to serious issues that included the war against terrorism and the economy.

"In these challenging times the president has three priorities - adding jobs to our economy, defending our homeland and overcoming threats to our freedom," Cheney said, adding a chastisement to those in Congress who would roll back the tax cuts championed by Bush and passed by Congress during the president's first year in office. "We believe being pro-growth means allowing people to keep more of what they've earned. We want to make the Bush tax cuts permanent."

In Lafayette, about 25 area residents paid $5,000 to participate in a round-table discussion with Cheney, Terrell and Foster on issues facing the nation and the state. Among that group were Foster, U.S. Rep. David Vitter, state GOP Chairwoman Pat Brister, shipbuilder Boysie Bollinger, Lafayette oil industry service company heads John Chance, Paul Hiliard and Bill Dore, and New Orleans oilman Pat Taylor.

Terrell's Acadiana organizer, State Sen. Mike Michot, R-Lafayette, estimated that, after all costs of the event were deducted, Terrell should have about $250,000 left from the event.

Foster did not address the crowd but he and Rep. Tony Perkins, R-Pride, who endorsed Terrell after running fourth in primary, were cheered when Terrell recognized their attendance and thanked them for their support.

Perkins said Friday that he would actively work for Terrell's election. His support is key to rallying conservative religious voters, who some election experts predicted would not vote without Perkins' encouragement.

Foster said before the rally that he would do "anything they want" to promote Terrell's campaign, including doing campaign ads. But he said he would not do any negative ads.

"I'll do what I can," the governor said. "But I've still got a state to run. I'll go to fund-raisers, talk to friends, talk to people in the party."

Has anyone seen any recent polling? Obviously in this kind of run-off, it's more important than ever to identify likely voters. Any projections of what turnout is likely to be?

There was a poll last week showing Landrieu ahead 52-37, but it was registered voters (LA is 2/3 registered Democrat), not likely voters.

There have also been two GOP polls showing Terrell ahead. One didn't release the numbers, but the Wilson polling camp had Terrell up 48-40%, with a margin of error of 4.4%.

That is great news! The national talking heads were still portraying Terrell as the underdog this weekend. Wouldn't it be awesome to have some additional margin in the Senate, as well as sending Landrieu into a well deserved retirement!

The national talking heads were still portraying Terrell as the underdog this weekend.

Let 'em. They said the same thing about Coleman in MN, Chambliss in GA and about Forrester vs. Torricelli.

In reality, I think Landrieu is the underdog here, although I definitely don't think she's toast like some around here do. But I do feel Suzie's in better shape than Mary.

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