Gubernatorial candidates talk education, economic development in Baton Rouge forum

San Jose, CA, Mercury News ^ | 08-29-03 | AP

[Theodore R.]

Gubernatorial candidates talk education, economic development Hopefuls also discussed how to keep youth from leaving state.

BATON ROUGE - In a gubernatorial forum that was billed as a debate but seemed more like a well-mannered conversation, all the candidates agreed state spending on schools was good, prisons for youth are bad and preschool education was superlative.

[Theodore R.]

Perhaps the candidates are sizing each other up and not yet taking off the gloves. But there is just over a month for the others to take either Blanco or Ieyoub out of the expected general election matchup of Nov. 15. It will be a daunting task, for Blanco and Ieyoub have large reliable bases from which to secure votes in the Oct. 4 primary.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

The GOP base needs to rally around one candidate. To me, Jindal is Foster's man, which makes me leery of him. I honestly don't know enough about Blossman or Downer, but I do know that I don't want Blanco or Ieyoub in the Governor's mansion.

[Theodore R.]

Blanco and Ieyoub have a reliable base: Blanco, women and French-surnamed people; Ieyoub, blacks, unions, and sheriffs. Jindal, Blossman, and Downer are dividing a third of the vote three ways. I would prefer Blossman were I still in LA, but Jindal is said to be the stronger of the three. Still without a united base, how could a Republican get into the general election here? Leach and Ewing are dividing a similar natural base: rural conservatives.