Last night, Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) and the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) co-sponsored the first of three debates among the top four candidates for Governor. Congratulations to the groups for putting on the debate and getting Congressman Jindal to agree to participate. Many other organizations and media outlets have not succeeded in luring Jindal into a debate.
For most of the campaign, Jindal has avoided these forums, sticking to the typical strategy of a frontrunner. He is attempting to “run out the clock” with this huge lead and avoid a run-off. His strategy may be somewhat flawed however, for a new Multi-Quest International poll shows that Jindal has dropped below the magic 50% level. The poll pegs Jindal at 48.5% with about 30% still undecided. If he can pick up just a little of that undecided vote, he will likely win without a run-off. Yet, his support has been dropping as the campaign progresses. In a Southern Media poll last month, Jindal was in the low 60’s. The attacks from Senator Boasso have obviously worked to bring down Jindal’s support level.
The congressman still has a large lead due mostly to his superior name recognition and the voters’ appreciation of his solid grasp of the issues. There is also significant voters’ remorse about the last election with many Blanco voters realizing they made a huge mistake in the last election. Nevertheless, the new poll does give hope to the other three top challengers because at this point there is a chance for a runoff and it is a close race for second and each one has a chance.
Last night, Jindal was the most knowledgeable about the topics to no one’s surprise. He has basically been running for Governor for four straight years. In that time, he has gained an incredible mastery of the issues and last night he filled each of his answers with mountains of information and statistics. Jindal did not suffer any mortal wounds and did not make any mistakes, so in an important way, he won the debate. Yet, the Congressman did his best to avoid answering some of the questions and clearly would not adhere to the yes/no question period at the end. It is impossible for the Congressman to ever limit his answers to just one word. He also has a rapid fire style that is hard to follow for some voters. He has not “slowed down” in his speaking style as many political experts believe he should.
Among the others, John Georges was the most aggressive in attacking Jindal and promoting his agenda, which includes the Blueprint Louisiana platform. Georges helped himself the most just by being on the stage with three other politicians. He is a novice as a candidate and has come a long way in a short period of time. Just a few months ago, no one knew Georges, but now he is a serious threat to finish the race in second place, quite an achievement.
Foster Campbell continued to show unbridled enthusiasm for his oil processing tax plan. Almost every answer included some sort of reference to his tax plan. He was the most enthusiastic of the four participants and probably enticed some support with his continual reference to his plan to remove all income taxes in the state. Campbell suffers from a lack of funds for the final few weeks of the race. The other three candidates will have at least $4 million more to spend, a sizeable disadvantage for Campbell.
Walter Boasso was the most composed of the candidates, yet he did make one mistake. When answering, Boasso often did not look directly into the camera and make a direct pitch to the voters. When participating in these debates, candidates should forget about the panelists and direct their answers to the only people who really count the viewers. Yet, he certainly did not look or sound “corrupt” as charged by the Jindal campaign and even had John Georges coming to his defense. He was at his best when he gave an emotional response to why he was no longer a Republican. He also effectively chided Congressman Jindal for espousing rhetoric in Louisiana, but not backing it up with action in WashingtonD.C.
Overall, it was a good first step toward more interest in this race. Hopefully, the next two debates will have more fireworks and more interaction between the candidates and with average voters across the state. This is the most important election in our history; it is time for everyone to start giving the race the attention it deserves.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 8:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 5 till 9 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.
I hate to point out discrepancies, ladies and gentlemen, but I feel that I must. Jindal is anything but lockstep with Bush. His healthcare policy contains some aspects of the Bush administration plan, but it also differs in many respects. As an FYI, the plans of both Boasso and Georges also contain parts of the Bush plan. - - - Also, Jindal differs from Bush on recovery money. Jindal believes that the Fed should pay a substantially greater amount of money, so that wind/hail is covered under the Governor Kathleen Blanco's Road Home Program. Bush thinks the Fed should only cover flood. - - - Now, I'm sure someone is going to trot out his voting record in Washington. And, if we were voting on him to return to Washington, then that would matter. While in Washington, it is hard to oppose the President (especially if you are of the same party as he). Similarly, while in Baton Rouge, it is hard to oppose the will of the Governor. Of course Boasso didn't have much of a problem voting for/against anything this year in the Senate - he was absent for 30% of the votes!! Written by Professor
on 10/1/2007
Well,dears, we have a bit of a problem. As we listen to the rural doctor talking about corruption that Pi Jindal took care of while he was working in hospitals and health, we wondered who were the people behind the corruption. If indeed, they were violating the laws then why did Pi fail to take legal action or have the proper officials take the action to have them charged, indicted, and imprisoned. Are we missing something or were some of these corrupt politicians found to be criminals and are now serving time. Come now Doctor and Pi back up your statements. Ta, Ta, dears. Written by RhettsWife
on 9/30/2007
Well, Jindal used to be very "polished" in all of his presentations. Maybe he is emulating not only Bush's ability to be a uniter *cough*, but also he is emulating Bush's awkwardness:
<As a candidate, George W. Bush once asked, "Is our children learning?"
On Wednesday, he had an answer.
"Childrens do learn," he said.
The setting was, yes, an education event where the president was taking credit for rising test scores and promoting congressional renewal of his signature education law. To create the right image, he summoned the city's school chancellor, a principal, some teachers and 20 eager students from P.S. 76.
The visual worked fine. The oral? Not so much. For Bush, it was a classic malapropism, the sort of verbal miscue that occasionally bedevils him in public speaking and provides his critics easy fodder for ridicule.>
http://www.oliverwillis.com/archives/2007/09/26/bush-childrens-do-learn/
Written by Harvestmoon
on 9/30/2007
How can Jindal be the Great Uniter? His idol is "I'm a uniter, not a divider" President Bush -- what a joke except that it isn't funny -- with whom he's been in lockstep in Congress and Bush isn't even going to be around much longer. Jindal's expressed views on certain personal-matters type issues are nothing short of reactionary right-wing, e.g. he wants to see creationism taught in schools. Granted, Louisiana voters in general are fairly conservative but this whole Jindal phenomenon just strikes me as pretty empty and devoid of substance. Written by Richard P.
on 9/30/2007
I believe Jindal did a superb job making his points. I too wish his delivery was more polished but unfortunately we can't be blessed with all abilities. Boasso didn't change my mind and neither did Georges telling us over and over what he's accomplished in the private sector. Government is an animal upon its self feeding thru special interest and compromise and group power. The end results hopefully is legislation passed that benifits all Louisianans.
At this point in Louisiana politics we need someone that can bridge both Democrats and Republicans for our betterment in the National eyes arena: Corruption is dead on the State level.
I believe Jindal is that man now. Written by Ben
on 9/29/2007
How did the other candidates poll in the Quest-International Poll? Written by paul
on 9/29/2007
I always seem to not get posted. I will try again. I have probably got 2 of 20 through. I don't know who I am going to vote for, but I thought Jindal was very mechanical. HIs hand motions did not align with his mouth. Kinda like those old Japanese movies where sound and lip movement weeren't in sync. I thoguth Campbell came across as the most assured about his program. I think he would be a very formidible candidate, but money shortage will leave him out of the top finishers. Jindal may be more knowledgeable, but he was more mechanical than any of them. though. first time his speaking ability was not impressive. I will leave that to the body language experts. Written by bobby
on 9/28/2007
I thought was the real winner. I stood up for what I believed in and was recognized for it state wide. Written by Tony G
on 9/28/2007
I can't remember which month it was, but I think it was in August or September. I was so impressed with him that I brought lots of signs home for me and my neighbors if they cared to put them in their yards. Written by Harvestmoon
on 9/28/2007
He made that statement when he spoke at the New Orleans chapter of the Health Underwriters Association. I was there. Written by Harvestmoon
on 9/28/2007
Harvestmoon - you're going to have to back that statement up. Please tell me when and where he made that statement. I'll need proof, please. Written by Professor
on 9/28/2007
Jeff, you made one mistake in your analysis of the latest poll statistics. That “30% undecided” is a huge factor. The reason is that people who are still “undecided” aren’t going to vote. What I mean is, when October 20 rolls around, if I don’t know for whom I will vote, I’m not going to leave my living room to go sit in front of a voting machine and not pull a lever. So, you have to disregard that 30%. Of course, that leaves you with only 70%. How do you get back up to 100%? You increase every other factor (in this case, candidate votes) by 30%. I don’t know what numbers that poll had the other 2 guys at, but let’s assume that each was 7% (7+7+7+49+30=100). If you increase 7 by 30% you get 9%. But, if you increase 48.5 by 30%, you get 63%! So, now we’ve got Jindal with 63% and the other candidates with 9% on average. Written by Professor
on 9/28/2007
was that Bobby Jindal or Jimmy Jindal who said that? I don't remember that statement. Written by Sid
on 9/28/2007
When Jindal ran for Governor the first time, he said that he was not a politician, that if he didn't win that race, he'd NEVER run again. I have no use for liars. Although I'm sure there isn't a politician who doesn't lie, Jindal breaking his first promise tells me alot about him as a man...about his integrity or lack of. Written by Harvestmoon
on 9/28/2007
Georges kept trying to distance himself form the politicians, but he went a little over board with the constant "I" hired hundreds and thousands of people, "I" hired good managers, "I" trained work forces. "I" am wary of people that say "I" all the time. Also, Boasso stated that he switched parties because the republican party left him high and dry. He stated that President Bush promised to make Louisiana whole again and all it would take is a single stroke of the pen. Hmmmm, I guess he didn't hear President Bush say in Jackson Square that the money would come when the plan was presented. C'mon Boasso up until then I liked you. Written by Sid
on 9/28/2007
I have a feeling that it will be very hard for Jindal to pick up those undecided votes. People know who Jindal is and if they thought he was a good choice they would be voting for him. Written by Dan
on 9/28/2007
Jindal did not come off as being "knowledgable". He came of as being a lot of talk with no substance. When he said the same thing 6 times in one of his answers (the 2nd one I believe), I just had to laugh and ask my wife "what happened to the great orator Jindal"? Written by Dan
on 9/28/2007
Good analysis. Boasso came across as the most likeable, the most down to earth. But not as knowledgeable as Jindal, and not as capable. I don't think Jindal has cast any doubts on Boasso's personal ethics, but with his dependency on yellow-dog Democrats, his ability to get ethics reform through the legislature would be less than Jindal's. And I think Louisiana needs a governor with a broader perspective than most candidates who have limited or no experience outside Louisiana.
Campbell's tax on imported oil is unrealistic: if it passes legal muster, it will still be avoided within a few years by importing oil elsewhere, e.g., Texas. Shell is building a $7 Billion expansion to its Port Arthur refinery, and a $5 Bil/yr incentive would get additional crude oil port handling capability in Texas pretty quick.
Georges will be a good candidate in the future. Not ready for prime time, but smart enough, focused, capable. A good choice after 8 years of Jindal, although Jay Dardenne might be a gubernatorial candidate by then. Written by chaubert
on 9/28/2007
Jeff, dear, in our humble opinion the man to watch is Georges. Fresh faces may be just what the public is looking for regardless of the ability to memorize facts and figures like any mathematician. Written by RhettsWife
on 9/28/2007
Last night, Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) and the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) co-sponsored the first of three debates among the top four candidates for Governor. Congratulations to the groups for putting on the debate and getting Congressman Jindal to agree to participate. Many other organizations and media outlets have not succeeded in luring Jindal into a debate. 
