Free Republic

Buddy Roemer, who rode a message of reform in the 1987 governor’s race to vault over three challengers and “slay the dragon” — scandal-torn three-time Gov. Edwin Edwards — but who lost reelection four years later to the same rival, died Monday in Baton Rouge. Roemer was 77. He had been ill for months. Roemer was a Democrat-turned-Republican, but he seemed too independent and headstrong to fit well in either party. He never followed the precept that to get ahead in politics, you had to get along with other politicians. With his sharp mind, he understood all the angles of...

Americans Elect, after qualifying for ballot in 29 states, won't nominate a third-party presidential candidateAmericans Elect qualified for the presidential ballot in Oregon and 28 other states, but the group on Thursday said it is abandoning its effort to field a third-party presidential candidate this year. The well-funded group developed an elaborate online process aimed at attracting millions of voters who would nominate a candidate for president.  But the group said that no candidate managed to get enough voter support to participate in an online convention in June. "We will not hold a June convention," Ileana Wachtel, the group's press...

WASHINGTON -- Blasting the two major parties as "joined at the billfold," former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer announced Thursday that he is abandoning his bid for the Republican nomination for an independent candidacy for president. "Last night the Republicans held their 23rd television debate. I have not been invited to a single one," said Roemer. "I am the only candidate who has been shut out by the Republican Party. Well, we're on a mission to take this country back from the powerful special interests. We are prepared to challenge both parties. Both parties are joined at the bill fold, they...

These days if you don't like the polls, wait a few minutes. Another will be along shortly. Speaking of which, here's a new one this morning that could presage the start of a significant move by one candidate (or not), as well as some fresh insights into the thinking of those New Hampshire voters who'll hold the nation's first Republican primary early next month. Suffolk University is out with a new survey showing Newt Gingrich gaining and Mitt Romney slipping there, which we already knew. What it also shows though is Jon Huntsman making a push into third place with...

If everything works out, the Buddy Roemer boomlet should be perfectly timed to sweep him to victory in the Iowa caucus and make him the Republican nominee for president. OK, I'm kidding (and in case you were wondering, Buddy Roemer is a former Louisiana governor and congressman who is running for president, but for some reason, he's considered "fringe" and ignored while a half-dozen equally clownish candidates are allowed to participate in the debates). But watching the Newt Gingrich surge—he's now leading the Republican field in some polls—you could almost believe that every candidate, including Roemer, will eventually get their...

As his path to the Republican nomination for president looks increasingly impossible, former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer’s campaign is starting to mull a third-party run. Last week, Roemer campaign manager Carlos Sierra told The Daily Caller that while he had been exploring other possible options for his candidate, Roemer himself was still focused on the Republican primary. But on Wednesday Sierra suggested that Roemer is aware of his actions and was beginning to consider the idea. “The whole South Carolina and Florida thing — it’s definitely getting him thinking a little more about other options,” Sierra said.

Among the 2012 candidates labeled by media pundits and opinionators as improbable, long-shot, third-tier comic-book characters are former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer, former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson and Rep. Thad McCotter of Michigan. Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/07/21/buddy-roemer-announcing-2012-gop-bid-for-president-deserves-attention.html#ixzz1SoOfFeKv

A poll unveiled this week from American Research Group shows that three Republican presidential candidates -- U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska -- are gaining serious momentum in Iowa, site of the first presidential caucus. Bachmann, who declared her candidacy in June and has been surging in polls at both the national and state levels, topped the poll with 21 percent. Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts placed second with 18 percent. Paul, who was the Libertarian candidate in 1988 and ran for the Republican nomination in...

The Republican presidential campaign seems to have sputtered to a kind of a start in Iowa last night. The undercard candidates, Buddy Roemer and Herman Cain, threatened to steal the show, but Tim Pawlenty in particular sought to show that he's got the heat and the personality size to be his party's nominee.

President Buddy Roemer? He says he might take a shot at it because he’s deeply unimpressed with the rest of the potential Republican field. Next month the former congressman and Louisiana governor will announce whether he’ll be competing for the GOP nomination for president. In an interview with The News Star in his home state he sounded ready to go for it: “I’m getting ready to make my case with the American people.” Continue Reading Roemer has discussed his presidential ambitions with his family and board members of his Business First Bank. He’s even found a replacement to run the...

Holden apparent winner in mayor-president race By SCOTT DYER sdyer@theadvocate.com Advocate staff writer With 100 percent of East Baton Rouge precincts reporting, state Sen. Kip Holden was apparently on his way Wednesday to becoming the first African-American mayor-president in Baton Rouge history. Holden, a Democrat who made two unsuccessful bids for mayor-president before Tuesday's successful showing, had 94,802 votes, or 54 percent of the ballots counted, with all 300 of the parish's precincts reporting. Meanwhile, incumbent Mayor-President Bobby Simpson, a Republican, was a distant second with 81,142 votes, or 46 percent. In his acceptance speech late Tuesday, Holden urged Baton...

Kennedy courts black voters with anti-John calls By MARSHA SHULER mshuler@theadvocate.com Capitol news bureau Democratic state Treasurer John Kennedy became the focal point of the U.S. Senate campaign Thursday as he took to a new level an attack on two opponents, and one of them accused Kennedy of "race baiting." The racial accusation stems from automated calls going to African-American households linking Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris John to former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. The solicitation promotes Kennedy as "the right choice" for black voters. "He's trying to scare the African-American community. It's absolutely not true," John said. "That...

Holden adds business endorsements By SCOTT DYER sdyer@theadvocate.com Advocate staff writer Beneath a banner proclaiming that "Kip Means Business," a group of about 80 mostly Democratic business leaders and officials turned out Monday to endorse state Sen. Kip Holden, D-Baton Rouge, in his bid to unseat Republican incumbent Mayor-President Bobby Simpson. The only high-profile Republican to publicly speak in support of Holden at Monday's press conference was former Gov. Buddy Roemer, who now serves as president of the Business Bank of Baton Rouge. "I do not know a man who can bring us together faster, cutting across party lines, racial...

http://www.thenewsstar.com/editorial/html/BF817F57-C937-413D-98E2-98570FEF740E.shtml

Inside Political Track Roemer Is Serious...In the seven days since The Louisiana Weekly revealed that former Governor Buddy Roemer might run for the U.S. Senate, evidence has mounted that Roemer is serious. He has contacted many of the contributors who backed his candidacies for Congress and the Executive Mansion, and has gained one prominent supporter. Shaw Group CEO Jim Bernhardt, a Democrat, has said that he will support Roemer. --PoliticsLA.com commentary by Christopher Tidmore Key Fundraising Tallies So Far... U.S. Senate Race: David Vitter...$2.6 million on hand--$1.145 million raised in 1st Quarter. Chris John...$2 million on hand (April 1)--$1 million+...

Former Louisiana governor and congressman, Buddy Roemer, says he's considering a political comeback by jumping into the race to replace retiring US Senator John Breaux. Roemer says the Senate race interests him because -- quote -- Louisiana desperately needs to get its act together. His interest might also have been piqued by a recent poll conducted for a group of businessmen that showed him with 89 percent name recognition and 48 percent of the respondents saying they would at least consider voting for him. If he enters the race, he would become the second Republican in the race, joining US...