Mary Landrieu could be in serious trouble, top dem got only 18% against Bobby in LA Gov vote

[Herman Munster]

It looks like all the Louisiana democrats moved to Houston or Atlanta. Maybe those states are going to be a little more purple than usual in 2008 but Louisiana looks dark red. They have had a cleansing of democrats it appears.

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2029227220071021?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&rpc=22&sp=true

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Republican Rep. Bobby Jindal was elected governor of Louisiana on Saturday to become the first Indian-American to lead a U.S. state.

With most of the precincts counted, Jindal, 36, had 54 percent of the vote to win without a runoff in Louisiana's electoral system, where candidates of all parties run in a single primary.

His nearest competitor, Democrat Walter Boasso, received just 18 percent of the vote.

The Oxford-educated Jindal will replace Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat who did not run again after she was widely criticized for bungled recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Blanco narrowly defeated Jindal in the 2003 election.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. ..

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

8. thanks

[Herman Munster]

11. title edited to reflect the top dem got 18%

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. An Indian-American who is Republican?

Judging from the history of Indian-Americans, that's another Clarence Thomas. Republicans are amazing in how much money they spend on the 3 or 4 Republican minorities in the U.S. They'll do anything to appeal to minorities while hurting them.

[Jade Fox]

22. The GOP snatches up any person of color who is conservative....

or even leans in that direction, wines and dines them, and gives them mucho monetary support to become visible members of the GOP or mouthpieces for the GOP.

Republicans try desperately not to look like the party of white men that they mostly are.

[Eric J in MN]

3. From National Journal

http://nationaljournal.com/njcover.htm


"Louisiana

Mary Landrieu holds the dubious distinction of being the only endangered Senate Democrat. And many of her problems are not of her own making.

Landrieu eked out victories in 1996 and 2002 against underwhelming Republican nominees. In both races New Orleans supplied nearly all of her winning margin, but the city's population has shrunk since Hurricane Katrina."

[aquart]

5. If Louisiana's people are dissatisfied with their government, who can blame them?

[Eric J in MN]

17. The handling of Katrina wasn't the fault of the US Senators from Lousiana.

People there may be mad at the govt, but shouldn't take it out on them.

[...of J.Temperance]

27. Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu (Mary's brother) was re-elected in a landslide - 57% of the vote

Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu got MORE votes in Louisiana than Bobby Jindal.

Mitch Landrieu got 701,777 votes = 57% and NO run-off election needed.

Bobby Jindal got 606,??? votes = 53%.

Senator Mary Landrieu CAN WIN in 2008, it CAN be done....Mitch PROVED that on Saturday....she's likely to face that snake John Kennedy, who used to be a Democrat up until about a few weeks ago.

PERSONALITY matters in Louisiana politics....Mary Landrieu is VERY charismatic and she's a FORMIDABLE election campaigner, she takes NO prisoners, she'll happily slice and dice her opponent EVERY which way.

John Kennedy has NO personality whatsoever and he's a boring campaigner.

Senator Landrieu will be re-elected, not by a similar margin to Mitch at 57%, but I predict she'll win either first time with about 51% of the vote OR if it goes to a run-off election she'll be the TOP candidate and win with 52% of the vote.

Senator Landrieu MUST continue to hold the political views that she's been holding, she's had NO CHOICE but to move to the Right, she obviously wants to continue her political career....Louisiana will NOT vote for a Liberal Democrat, they'll ONLY vote for a Centrist Democrat or a Conservative Democrat, that's the way it is.

Senator Landrieu is a Centrist Democrat, she's doing fine, Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu showed his sister that she CAN win and be re-elected in 2008....and I'm certain that he'll help her to do so.

[Bitwit1234]

4. And we thought Texas and Alabama were crazy to accept the people from NO

Guess what. There weren't enough democrats to make a difference in those states, but is sure stiped LA of democrats. Republicans think of underhanded tricks in their sleep.

How easy would it have been to move the New Orleans and the rest of those displaced from LA to upper LA...

[midlife_mo_Jo]

13. No, it wouldn't have been easy at all

"How easy would it have been to move the New Orleans and the rest of those displaced from LA to upper LA..."


Those small towns in north Louisiana don't have the infrastructure to absorb that many people. They don't have public transportation, which many folks would need. There's a reason so many have settled in Houston - because they were more easily absorbed here. Baton Rouge also had a number of folks settle there, but they were busting at the seams for a while. I don't know what it's like right now.

[Warren Stupidity]

6. So what?

Mary Landrieu is useless as a Democrat other than for organizational purposes. Assuming that we generally kick ass in 2008, the loss of her LA seat, along with Joe Fuckhead's official departure to the Repugnut side, will not be a huge deal.

[AndyTiedye]

12. Still Begs the Question of Will Any Democrat Ever Win Again in Louisiana

[Tesha]

21. No. And probably nowhere statewide or nationally in Dixie. (NT)

[...of J.Temperance]

30. Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu a DEMOCRAT won BIG on Saturday - 57% of the vote

So the answer to your question is....Yes.

And Senator Mary Landrieu WILL be re-elected in 2008....she's a fighter, she'll do what she always does, she'll fight like a junkyard dog....and she'll WIN.

[TwilightGardener]

7. My heart's breaking...

not. I saw her on PBS at a "town-hall" type environmental forum (along with Ag Sec Mike Johanns and icky Jeff Sessions)--and all she did was whine about how honest she was and how hard she worked and yet everyone still accuses politicians of being "corrupt"--it was very unseemly how she made HERSELF and her petty thin-skinned whines the focus of her participation. I hope she wins just for the seat--but not because I like her in any way.

[Carrieyazel]

24. She's in trouble. Can't see her winning again.

[...of J.Temperance]

28. Mary Landrieu will be re-elected in 2008, you mark my words n/t

.

[Carrieyazel]

34. I do hope she wins. Hopefully, the Repubes nominate a bad candidate.

[...of J.Temperance]

36. They got John Kennedy thus far

A pretty desparate move, he was a life-long Democrat up until a few weeks ago.

Senator Landrieu would beat him easily.

She'd have a bit more trouble if the GOP put Jay Dardenne against her though, he's just been re-elected Secretary of State....although I reckon Mary Landrieu can beat him as well, probably closer than with Kennedy, but she could take Dardenne to the cleaners.

[skipos]

9. Edit your title and go look up the results for Lt Gov Landrieu (D) please. nt

[...of J.Temperance]

29. Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu re-elected with 57% of the vote....that's MORE than Jindal got!

Great or what?

:)

[Nimrod2005]

10. She is gone and everyone knows it...nt

[...of J.Temperance]

31. She's not gone, she'll be re-elected, her brother just got re-elected in a LANDSLIDE on Saturday

Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu got 57% of the vote....MORE than Jindal got at 53%.

Senator Mary Landrieu will get between 51%-52% of the vote in 2008.....Senator Landrieu will follow her brother's election strategy, target the same voters, target the same Parishes, follow his blueprint, and she'll WIN re-election.

Aside from Senator Hillary Clinton, and Senator Evan Bayh....Senator Mary Landrieu is my favorite Senator, she's fab!

[adadem]

14. kkkarl rove is having a good day it seems n/t

[Carrieyazel]

25. This is Louisiana though. Out of play for nearly any Dem statewide now.

[...of J.Temperance]

32. Nonsense, Mitch Landrieu a DEMOCRAT, the Lt. Governor was re-elected

Senator Mary Landrieu will be re-elected in 2008....in fact, ANYONE with the surname Landrieu running as a Democrat WOULD win STILL in Louisiana.

The Landrieu's are HUGE in Louisiana and always will be....people vote for the NAME, and who cares, just as long as they vote for THEM.

[Hippo_Tron]

15. This race will be quite different than the Senate race next year

The Democratic Party mounted no serious opposition to Jindal and basically conceded this race before it started. Jindal was already known statewide from when he ran for Governor last time and was predicted to win.

Boasso was a third tier challenger that was a Republican until he switched parties because the GOP anointed Jindal and didn't give any other Republicans a chance. Boasso financed with his own money and didn't really have much support from the Democrats.

Landrieu is an incumbent and will be better funded than whoever challenges her. The GOP is also having trouble finding a good challenger and had to get State Treasurer John Kennedy to switch parties to find someone to run against her.

[...of J.Temperance]

33. Agreed, what you said

The Democratic Party put no big name against Jindal.

Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu was re-elected with 57% of the vote and got over 100,000 MORE votes than Jindal got.

Senator Mary Landrieu IS a BIG name, the name Landrieu is BIG, she'll have a TON of money....and yeah all the GOP has so far is John Kennedy, who used to be a Democrat up until a few weeks ago....who else do they have to take Landrieu on....nobody....unless Jay Dardenne is up for it.

If the GOP convince Jay Dardenne, who is currently Secretary of State to run, then Senator Landrieu WILL have a fight on her hands....but I think she'll manage to get the 50% plus 1 that she'll need to be re-elected.

[Moloch]

16. I moved out of Louisiana in 2006...

its becoming virtually indistinguishable from mississippi and alabama.

[Carrieyazel]

18. Landrieu's done. Many Dems have left N. Orleans. The Repukes are in control there.

[Carrieyazel]

23. Landrieu isn't gonna make it next year.

[...of J.Temperance]

35. Senator Mary Landrieu will be re-elected, just like her Lt. Governor brother was on Saturday

Trust me, I know about these things.

[Hippo_Tron]

38. The Repukes are hardly in control of New Orleans

In our first post-Katrina local election we actually tossed out our one Republican city council member. Yes, the Democratic voting base statewide is somewhat diminished but Landrieu has a very good chance of being able to pull it out.

[PBass]

19. I hope she wins, but I really don't give a damn if she loses...

She is a DINO. She undercuts progressives and liberals. She weakens the party's core messages.

I just got a letter from the execrable James Carville, soliciting money for Landrieu. I sent back a note saying "good luck" but not a penny from me.

[onenote]

20. before you make such a sweeping generalization, you might look at all of the results

Many Democrats did just fine in the LA election last week, including Mitch Landrieu for Lt. Gov.
http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcms2&rqsdta=102007

[democratsin08]

26. she will win easily

no problem at all

[...of J.Temperance]

37. Word n/t

.

[wiseguy182]

39. landrieu

I understand that Landrieu may not be as far left as some of you would like, but she's has to run conservative to win in Louisiana, and she's our best chance. Better to have someone who votes with us some of the time, as opposed to someone who votes with us none of the time.

As far as the top Dem in the governor's race only getting 18%, I wouldn't worry about that too much. That tends to happen in jungle primaries, which is what Louisiana has. in 2004, something similar happened in the senate contest. Granted we lost that one, but Vitter only got 51% of the vote, and had the two democractic candidates been combined, it would have made for a very close race. Jindal did something similar, winning with 53%, which is not all that impressive: it basically means that slightly more than one in two persons voted for him.

Jindal's win wasn't really a backlash against Dems: he came close before, and they also hated Bush's response to Katrina.

Also, Vitter is not the "family values" candidate that Republican voters thought he once was, so that won't help out the GOP candidate, or candidates. In congress, he replaced another republican congressman who was embroiled in a sex scandal.

But so many dems and republicans switch parties in that state, it's tough to keep them straight. So I think they're more likely to elect candidates and not parties, which should help out Landrieu. She at least hans't switched parties, so she's consistent.

[wiseguy182]

40. more encouraging news for Landrieu

Additionally, Landrieu held this seat in 2002, overcoming two big obstacles: namely the repubicans picking up several seats (and 5 more in the south two years later), and also, they had lots of time to devote to this race as it went into a runoff, and was their sole priority for several weeks. Plus she won in a red state, by 4 points. So all of these factors are encouraging. It could still be a close race, but Landrieu is in the best shape possible, and I believe her approval ratings are above 50%, which is a good sign.