Free Republic

Republicans, independents show strong growth By ALAN SAYRE Associated Press writer Almost twice as many new voters have registered as Republicans than Democrats over the past year in Louisiana, but the biggest jump comes among those claiming no party affiliation. The deadline for registering for the November presidential election was Oct. 4, but an official of the state Democratic Party said some of the new registrations still have not been delivered to the secretary of state. He predicted that when all are included, Democrats will have a much-stronger showing. As of Monday, there were 2.89 million registered voters in Louisiana,...

Some want committee to reverse Tauzin endorsement By The Associated Press State Republicans meet Saturday in Baton Rouge, and a hot topic is certain to be the continuing squabble over the party's endorsement of a prominent name in the 3rd Congressional District race: Billy Tauzin. But it's not the well-know senior congressman and chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the party is endorsing; he's retiring. Rather, it's his son, a lobbyist for BellSouth Corp. who hopes to take over the seat. Party officials, looking appreciatively over the younger Tauzin's high name recognition and favorable prospects in the...

GOP backs state's newest Republican His rival gets left out in the cold Wednesday, August 11, 2004 By Ed Anderson Capital bureau BATON ROUGE -- The state and national GOP are backing U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander of Quitman, a newly minted Republican, rather than throwing their support behind longtime party member John "Jock" Scott, a former state House member who is running for Alexander's 5th District seat, party brass said Tuesday. "We are behind Congressman Alexander," said Jon Bargas, executive director of the state Republican Party. Bargas said state party officials are discussing ways to approach Scott about bowing out...