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Socking it to Dem: W stumping in La.
New York Daily News ^ | 12/03/02 | KENNETH R. BAZINET and THOMAS M. DeFRANK

Posted on 12/03/2002 1:16:08 AM PST by kattracks

WASHINGTON - Not content with merely savoring his party's new Senate majority, President Bush stumps in Louisiana today, hoping to deal Democrats another demoralizing electoral blow.

Bush has thrown the full weight of his presidency into knocking off Sen. Mary Landrieu, who's in a Dec. 7 runoff with state Elections Commissioner Suzanne Haik Terrell.

His day trip to the Bayou State, including a Shreveport rally and a fund-raising lunch in New Orleans, caps a GOP blitz that has featured visits by Vice President Cheney, former President George Bush, incoming Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and Sen.-elect Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.).

Democrats are equally determined to halt their electoral slide and take a bit of the edge off losing the Senate in the Nov. 5 midterm elections by holding onto Landrieu's seat. A top Democratic strategist reached last week was the only operative in his office. "Everybody else is in Louisiana," he said.

The political stakes go well beyond bragging rights. Congressional sources say that if the Republicans win, giving them a 52-to-48 Senate majority, Democrats could lose two seats on every committee instead of the one-seat reduction now envisioned.

"It may just look like one seat," one Bush adviser said, "but in terms of power shifts, it's a far bigger deal."

GOP 'wind is blowing'

Bush is enormously popular in Louisiana and carried the state handily in 2000. But Terrell is a relatively obscure and uncharismatic candidate who has been feuding with Republican Gov. Mike Foster.

Landrieu won 46% of the vote last month, while Terrell beat several other GOP candidates with 27%. But because Landrieu didn't get a majority, state law required this week's runoff.

Even though she came within four percentage points of winning her second term outright, one prominent national Democratic strategist is pessimistic about her chances.

"It's a lot harder for Mary to get those four points than for Terrell to get 23," he said. "A Republican wind is blowing."

A Southern Media and Opinion Research poll done last week showed Landrieu with a 16-point lead. Strategists for both sides, however, said Bush's visit will move the numbers significantly for Terrell and rate the race a tossup.

Turnout is a major wild card for both candidates, and Democrats are fighting a wave of apathy after losing the Senate.

"People are still so depressed from the election that they're going to let this slide," a senior Democratic National Committee official said, pointing to waning interest from women's organizations and even trade unions. Party operatives are especially worried about African-American voters, who aren't big Landrieu fans.



TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 12/03/2002 1:16:08 AM PST by kattracks
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To: kattracks
Even though she came within four percentage points of winning her second term outright, one prominent national Democratic strategist is pessimistic about her chances.

Maybe so .. but the fact is 54% voted against her ..

2 posted on 12/03/2002 1:20:55 AM PST by Mo1
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To: kattracks
Liberals are depressed cause the Senate is already lost. Losing another seat would make it harder for say Lincoln Chaffee to pull a Jeffords and cross the aisle. And it will give the GOP bigger bragging rights on key committees. Its hard to see how the Dems can generate the turnout needed to save Here's Mary's job in Washington D.C this coming weekend.
3 posted on 12/03/2002 1:20:58 AM PST by goldstategop
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To: Mo1
Yup. And I don't think that 54% will change their minds on Dec. 7th. Louisianans just want Here's Mary GONE.
4 posted on 12/03/2002 1:21:58 AM PST by goldstategop
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To: goldstategop
I sure hope so ...
5 posted on 12/03/2002 1:27:24 AM PST by Mo1
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To: kattracks
I understand that Louisiana is a very Catholic state. I fervently hope and pray that it is not like the NE Catholic States, i.e.Mass, NY, NJ etc. These states are supossedly very Catholic but also very pro-abortion. This should be a non-sequetur.

I understand that Landrieu is a pro-abortion Catholic and Terrel is a Pro-life Catholic. The Catholics along with their evangelical brothers and sisters should put Terrel over in a landslide.

Godspeed, The Dilg-
6 posted on 12/03/2002 1:48:56 AM PST by thedilg
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To: Mo1
The Republican strategists must know something at this stage of the campaign. Karl Rove makes the decisions about Bush's campaign stops and is loathe to schedule an event in a state where Bush can be made to look ineffective by a GOP loss.
7 posted on 12/03/2002 1:50:32 AM PST by Chunga
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To: thedilg
One thing I can assure you of, my FRiend, is that Louisiana is not at all like MA, NY, or NJ. It's not just a tourism slogan. Things are different down there. That said, I'm not certain Terrell will win. But her stand on abortion is definitely working in her favor. There are pro-abort people in Louisiana, of course. But none of them would ever vote Republican anyway. On the other hand Terrell's pro-life credentials will attract centrists and fire up the conservative base.
8 posted on 12/03/2002 7:04:23 PM PST by rogue yam
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To: thedilg
Actually Louisiana is not what most think in terms of religon. 90% of the New Orelans area is Catholic, 90% of the rest of the state is Baptist, the true bible belt.

With this I still agree with your reasoning with the demographics.

9 posted on 12/03/2002 7:11:32 PM PST by Quick Shot
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To: Quick Shot
"Actually Louisiana is not what most think in terms of religon. 90% of the New Orelans area is Catholic, 90% of the rest of the state is Baptist, the true bible belt."

With a 90% Catholic in New Orleans and the rest of the state
90% Baptist one would think that Terrell would win 90% of the vote.

We pro-life people are doing something very wrong. Does any one have a clue as to what it is? Does any one have a clue as to how we can do better?

Godspeed, The Dilg
10 posted on 12/04/2002 12:15:07 AM PST by thedilg
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To: thedilg
Internal GOP polls show us winning by 2 points and that was 24 hours BEFORE Bush got there. There is a clear trend that has developed on 3 fronts... a) the liberal media's polls are wrong because they are biased and unrepresentative of non-urban sprawls and b) since 2000 we have been working very hard on up-dated state voter registrars via web-based technology and keeping our people on the ground moving ALL the time. c) the rats are quickly losing grip on the black vote (at least Donna Brazille is honest about one thing).

I called Colorado by 8 points for Allard and I'm calling Lousiana by 4 for Suzie - BUT YOU LOUISIANA FOLKS NEED TO STAY MAD AND VOTE! In the words of our beloved Hugh Hewitt, "DON'T GET MAD - GET THE SENATE!!!"",

11 posted on 12/04/2002 12:34:12 AM PST by StopThePress
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To: StopThePress
A prayer "PING" for Suzie.
12 posted on 12/04/2002 1:05:19 AM PST by AFPhys
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To: thedilg
We pro-life people are doing something very wrong. Does any one have a clue as to what it is? Does any one have a clue as to how we can do better?

I may not have everything, but I know part of the answer. Pro-lifers are perceived not so much against abortion as against sex. Your only solution seems to be abstinence. That may energize some, but where you need a majority it is a guaranteed loser. Stop demonizing sex or face irrelevancy.

An unwanted pregnancy is one of life's most challenging circumstances. Putting the baby up for adoption sounds simple but goes against one of our most primitive urges. Work to reduce unwanted pregnancies and demand for abortion will fade. But don't do it by demonizing sex.

The pro-life position that is strongest is on late term abortions, but everyone knows that is just a "foot-in-the-door" interim position leading to a total ban. The question you want to ask is, "Do I want to ban abortion or eliminate it?" The two are not the same.

13 posted on 12/04/2002 1:15:50 AM PST by laredo44
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To: StopThePress
"I'm calling Lousiana by 4 for Suzie - BUT YOU LOUISIANA FOLKS NEED TO STAY MAD AND VOTE! In the words of our beloved Hugh Hewitt, "DON'T GET MAD - GET THE SENATE!!!"","

I'm taking your 4 point estimate to the bank. We will see in a few days. I pray you have your act together.

Godspeed, The Dilg

14 posted on 12/05/2002 8:02:05 PM PST by thedilg
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