[nospinzone]

Lake Charles has a large union presence that reliably votes RAT, Lafayette doesn't. Also, the parish is one of the few whose population is still growing, while others are stagnant. The outer towns like Broussard, Carencro and Youngsville are exploding with new subdivisions, and most of these incomers are wealthier and better educated than the average joe. Also, being in the heart of Cajun country means it's overwhelmingly, and devotedly, Catholic, so the abortion issue resonates with most voters.

Yeah I think Lake Charles is Chris John's district, the only other Congressional Democrat in Louisiana besides Bill Jefferson.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Chris John is in Washington today despite Lake Charles. In '96, John beat Hunter Lundy(an uber-liberal trial lawyer who squeaked by a GOP candidate in the primary by 13 votes, IIRC) in the runoff. Lundy is from Lake Charles, and a heavy turnout there got him into the runoff. In the end, a good number of Pubbies(myself included) voted for the lesser of the two evils. Since then, John has had only token opposition(the GOP hasn't even bothered to field a candidate the last two cycles). He's not a bad Congressman, for a RAT, and is a reliable defender of the 2nd Amendment.