Democrat Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Still Leading in LA Gubernatorial Polls

Shreveport, LA, Times ^ | 09-01-03 | Hill, John

[Theodore R.]

CANDIDATE PROFILE: Blanco, leading in polls, refuses to fade John Hill Posted on September 1, 2003 BATON ROUGE - Kathleen Blanco looks up from the official document that puts her name on Louisiana's fall gubernatorial ballot: "Kathleen Babineaux Blanco," just as it has appeared on ballots the past 20 years.

[Theodore R.]

How can three hopelessly divided Republicans possibly put forth a serious challenge to this popular Democrat, now leading in all gubernatorial polls?

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

"Kathleen Babineaux Blanco?" Wasn't that the name of one of the hobbits in Lord of the Rings...? :)

[Theodore R.]

The "Babineaux" is included in the name on the ballot to attract French-surnamed Louisiana voters, mostly Democrats, who are probaby at least 20 percent of the electorate.

She has a comfortable lead one month before the primary. The GOP is fading fast, as her two most likely opponents could be fellow Democrats Richard Ieyoub and Randy Ewing.

[Uncle Sham]

Blanco is a total fake, stuck-up, & a liberal jerk. The republican party really doesn't exist in Louisiana. We have the democratic party divided into two halves, one of them calling itself "republican". Actually, that's not too far off from how our national parties are.

[JohnnyZ]

Last I head Jindal was in 2nd place, behind Blanco and in a statistical tie with Ieyoub.

Seems like he's still very much in the running.

[Theodore R.]

Ieyoub is probably underpolling in the surveys: he has the full support of blacks, party regulars, trial lawyers, unions, sheriffs, and other parish officials. At this point, it is hard to imagine how any No. 3 candidate dislodges either Blanco or Ieyoub to go into the Nov. 15 general election.