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Despite Democratic claims of solid unity among members, some top candidates for office either showed up and quickly fled the national convention in Boston, or shunned it entirely. Most of the no-shows came from the South, or other conservative red state areas, and are seeking to distance themselves from the liberal Kerry-Edwards ticket. According to the Los Angeles Times, some of the party's most promising U.S. Senate candidates in the South opted to stay home and campaign in an effort to avoid being connected to their party's far-left nominees. Wrote the Times, "Many have staked out positions on such issues...

Senate Hopefuls Are Convention No-Shows Some Fear Being Tied to Democratic Ticket By Charles Babington Washington Post Staff Writer Monday, July 26, 2004; Page A01 BOSTON, July 25 -- Boston is the place for Democrats this week, but some will be conspicuous by their absence Thursday night, when John F. Kerry accepts the presidential nomination. The top Democratic candidates from seven of the eight most competitive Senate races will be back home, as will dozens of House candidates. Publicly, these candidates say they need to spend every possible minute campaigning at home. Privately, some acknowledge they do not want to...

Breaux thinks John best fit for his shoes By GERARD SHIELDS gshields@theadvocate.com Advocate staff writer It's official -- U.S. Sen. John Breaux, D-La., is supporting U.S. Rep. Chris John, D-Crowley, in the race to succeed Breaux. Breaux's endorsement of John was expected. But the fellow Crowley native who is retiring after 32 years in Congress made it official by co-hosting a New Orleans fund-raising event on May 22 on behalf of John. Event chairs were asked to raise $25,000. Event hosts were asked to contribute or raise $10,000. And it was suggested that each guest who attended contribute $1,000. Laura...

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

<p>WASHINGTON - Despite trailing in the polls, Democratic candidates in the race to replace retiring Democratic Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana are narrowly favored to win over the only Republican running, political analysts said last week.</p> <p>But that hairline Democratic edge, as one put it, could change in a puff of Louisiana's erratic political wind.</p>

LOUISIANA LOG JAM The sudden interest in a political comeback by Republican former Gov. Buddy Roemer is threatening to deflate high GOP hopes for winning a U.S. Senate seat from Louisiana for the first time since Reconstruction. Polls show Republican Rep. David Vitter leading Democratic Rep. Chris John, retiring Sen. John Breaux's handpicked successor, and Democratic State Treasurer John Kennedy. Roemer, an ex-Democrat who served a controversial hitch for governor (1988-1992), could change all that if he enters the race with better name identification than any other candidate. In Louisiana's non-party free-for-all election, Roemer and Vitter could divide up the...

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+...

Verne Kennedy, a Flordia-based political pollster, has confirmed to PoliticsLa.com that the poll first reported on today on this Web site is accuarate but that the numbers are a little misleading. --- Kennedy says that in the head-to-head matchups, 17-20 percent of African American respondents indicated that they would vote for Republican Vitter. Kennedy does not expect that to happen. Says Kennedy, "That means that the Democrats easily have a two or three point lead over the Republican." --- Vitter 38 Kennedy 25 John 19 Vitter V. John 42 42 Vitter V. Kennedy 41 41

<p>Arthur Morrell, a Louisiana state representative since 1983 and a former chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, announced Wednesday he is seeking the U.S. Senate seat John Breaux is vacating. Breaux announced in December that he would not run again.</p>

<p>Posted on March 3, 2004 Phone calls from President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney failed to change his mind, but U.S. Rep. Jim McCrery couldn't say no to his wife, Johnette, who convinced him to seek a ninth term in Congress.</p>

<p>BATON ROUGE - State Treasurer John Kennedy already has plans to introduce four pieces of legislation if he is elected to the U.S. Senate this November.</p> <p>Kennedy, one of three announced contenders to replace Sen. John Breaux, who has announced his retirement, told the Baton Rouge Press Club on Monday that he's running because "Louisiana needs an aggressive voice in Congress."</p>

A recent poll by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates Inc. shows Republican David Vitter leading the race for US Senate with his Democratic rivals Chris John and John Kennedy tied for second place. Vitter has 34 percent, John has 16 percent and Kennedy has 15 percent. Democrat Jim Bernhard polled 4 percent, and 31 percent of voters were undecided. The poll of 502 likely voters was conducted from Jan. 22-24. It's margin of error is +/-4.4 percent. The poll was commissioned by the Kennedy Campaign.

SENATE RACE WON'T BE THAT CROWDED by Jim Brown PoliticsLA.com columnist posted January 7, 2004 Following the intense interest in the recent gubernatorial election, the general assumption has been that there will be a number of major candidates vying to fill the U. S. Senate seat being vacated this fall by long time incumbent John Breaux. Not so! When qualification time comes around, you can count the number of major candidates on one hand. Numerous newspaper columns have touted several unsuccessful gubernatorial candidates as sure qualifiers. The columns point to the 1996 race when Mary Landrieu bounced back from a...

The hottest race in Louisiana in 2004 will be for the U.S. Senate. With John Breaux retiring, many prominent politicians are considering a run for the most exclusive club in the country. Of course, Congressmen Chris John of (D-Crowley) and David Vitter (R-Metairie) are going to be strong candidates. John will have the unofficial backing of John Breaux and Vitter already has the support of Louisiana GOP Chairman Pat Brister. Nevertheless, let’s look at some other possible candidates: Ø State Treasurer John Kennedy. He is a conservative Democrat, and lives on the Northshore. Kennedy has aspirations for higher office and...

<p>Candidates Chris John, David Vitter present differences.</p> <p>John Hill Posted on December 22, 2003 BATON ROUGE - So far, the U.S. Senate race of 2004 could be shaping up to reflect this past fall's gubernatorial runoff campaign.</p> <p>The two candidates who are definitely in the battle are a conservative Democrat and an ultra-conservative Republican.</p>

<p>WASHINGTON - Democratic Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana will not retire for another year, but colleagues, friends and political observers already feel the upcoming loss.</p> <p>And, perhaps, Democrats feel it more.</p> <p>"With Sen. Breaux's retirement, the Senate loses one of (its) most respected legislators, and I lose one of my most valued colleagues," said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. "I've come to rely on his counsel and cherish his friendship."</p>

<p>BATON ROUGE - U.S. Sen. John Breaux, once the youngest member of Congress, will announce Monday whether he will run for a fourth term.</p> <p>The 59-year-old has scheduled lunch with his staff Monday to discuss his decision then will hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. in Baton Rouge to announce it to Louisiana.</p>

<p>WASHINGTON - If one of the Senate's most effective moderates decides not to seek re-election, action on issues from Medicare to taxes could be in jeopardy.</p> <p>Seniors might never see their prescription drug bills drop. Workers might be without health insurance between jobs. Welfare moms might not get training for work.</p>

U.S. Senate '04: Four Down, Two More to Go? by John Gizzi Posted Sep 23, 2003 Four of the 34 U.S. Senators up for election next year have announced their exiting--Zell Miller (Ga.), John Edwards (N.C.), and Ernest Hollings (S.C.), Democrats all, and Republican Peter Fitzgerald (Ill.) Now, signs are ominous that the next two senatorial shoes to drop will be those of Republican Don Nickles (Okla.) and Democrat John Breaux (La.). Word on the D.C. cocktail circuit over the weekend was that four-termer and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Nickles was anxious to make more money in the private sector,...

John For Senate... A senior Democratic source has revealed to The Louisiana Weekly that U.S. Senator John Breaux is seriously considering resigning his seat if a Democrat wins the Louisiana Governor's Mansion in November. The senior senator would do so to expedite the appointment of conservative Seventh District Democratic Congressman Christopher John to the position. According to the insider, Breaux worries that the Republicans would have an advantage in 2004 if he chooses not to run, and the only candidate capable of withstanding a GOP challenge is a Blue Dog-like John who has repeatedly supported the Bush administration. Appointing the...