As we reach the final hours, U.S. Congressman Bobby Jindal (R-Kenner) is within grasp of reaching the ultimate prize, election as the next Governor of Louisiana. Just like David Vitter in 2004 in the U.S. Senate race, Jindal is on the verge of a primary election victory. According to recent polls, the Kenner Congressman is the overwhelming leader in the race and has shown incredible resiliency despite plenty of attacks from his opponents. He has near 50% support in the polls. Running second is not one of his opponents, but the undecided vote. If Jindal picks up at least some undecided support, and keeps his same level of support, he should be able to win the race in the primary election.
Also helping Jindal is that fact that the electorate in Louisiana has been altered by Katrina. The storm displaced thousands of loyal Democratic voters, who no longer live in Louisiana. Jindal also has benefited by his competition, namely the Louisiana Democratic Party, which has been particularly ineffective in this race.
The Louisiana Democratic Party did not even field a candidate to run against new Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy. In the Governor’s race, the state Democratic Party launched an ill-advised attack against Jindal questioning his religious writings. The attacks backfired and actually helped Jindal more than it hurt him.
In contrast, the Louisiana Republican Party has operated in a much more visible and effective manner. The Louisiana GOP has offered powerful assistance to Bobby Jindal and helped field candidates in all of the statewide races. After the election, Republicans will likely hold five of the seven statewide offices. The GOP also controls six of the nine seats in our congressional delegation.
What is interesting is that the Republican Party is on the upsurge here while the GOP is facing horrible numbers nationwide. President Bush now has historically how approval numbers at only 24%. The GOP is losing congressional members to retirement or scandal on a regular basis and faces an almost impossible task of retaking Congress in 2008.
Among presidential candidates, U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is the favorite to take the White House next year. She has a strong lead among Democrats. Among Republicans, no candidate has been able to assemble a majority of voters.
So, once again, Louisiana will stand in contrast to the rest of the nation. One keen observer of national politics notes that Louisiana may be the only state in the nation trending toward the Republican Party.
However, we should not be too surprised by this development. Here in Louisiana, we are used to going are own way, in fact, we have been following the beat of a different drummer for decades.
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.
Mr. No Name.........Fed up with Racist Dems........Sorry, I'm the White Democrat
who votes for very, very few Republicans,,,,,,,,,,but does not look at skin color.........I mentioned India,,,,,because he will realize that "there is more than hypocricy to being American"!!! He is supposed to care about the Unfortunate people needing medical attention, but he turned his back on Louisiana's poor un-insured, and why did he not try to convince his 5 cronies to vote like "he supposedly would have done"...And Mr. No Name,,,,,I dare you to give your name. If you cannot say who you are, your words stand truly for nothing. I am afraid of NO ONE, and I will continue expressing myself.....You are chicken livered and very wrong.......in my most HUMBLE opinion...HMMMM?????
Anyway, I nearly want Jindal to win.....to see how we will fry him good and proper.....I'm not threatening anyone.....I'm just "calling it like it is" and enjoying it tremendously.....
Blanco will be missed..... This State has money...thanks to Katrina Recovery but into pertuity because of Senator Landrieu's procurement of oil monies we have been deprived of for 50 years.....What is Mississippi's reason for being at the bottom,,,they had all the money we were deprived....Just watch our smoke.......
A proud Cajun from Houma, Louisiana.......Now come on back with a name and a town if you wish to "opine"...Bet you don't........and if you do, they will probably be made up! Written by Audrey George
on 10/18/2007
Jindal get`s 42% of the vote at most and then he will lose in a run-off with Boasso. Jindal has become to much off a flip flopper, and in a run-off people are going to learn about the money he is taking to let a company build an industrial waste dump in alsen. Written by Diaperman
on 10/18/2007
Mais, Professor - you're wrong about a couple of things - 1) Executives DO care about what's being taught in schools, because they need an educated work force. I have heard (and admittedly, this is anecdotal) that a lot of companies do not want to locate in New Orleans because of the perception that one "has to" send one's kids to private school here. 2.) The point the "Evolved Ape" was trying to make is that a biotech company is not going to take a chance by locating in Louisiana, when it's worried a bunch of yahoo legislators and an overly religious zealot governor (i.e., Jindal) could criminalize their business without so much as a deep thought. TW Written by Tee Dub
on 10/18/2007
Jeff, do you think that Louisianians approve of Bush????!!!!! You must be kidding! He has been a horrible President, and I regrettably voted for him. His failures are monumental, and his deviousness is unparalelled, of the likes not seen since Hitler in the 30's. The only answer to the crisis in this country is Ron Paul. Written by Michele
on 10/18/2007
Evolved - you asked why a biotech exec will bring business to this state when we're teaching creationism? Well, first off, I don't think we'll be doing that. But, that's not your question. I'll tell you why he'll bring that business here. Because he's in the business of MAKING MONEY. If/When Bobby reduces the taxes that companies pay and makes the general environment more conducive to business, that exec will look at that. They don't care what's being taught in the schools when they can make more money for their stockholders! Written by Professor
on 10/18/2007
Jindal is going to be a laughing stock amongst the businessman that supposedly he is trying to woo as investors in our great state. Explain how a biotech executive, eager to garner goodwill in investing in some sort of a venture along the new medical corridor (i.e., Tulane avenue), will not think of LA as hopeless when he hears how the supposedly very intelligent and educated governor wants to teach creationism in the schools. Written by Evolved Ape
on 10/18/2007
"In a few years the Louisiana Democratic party will consists mostly of welfare recipients and left wing kooks." Hey NolaBoy, I'm a Democrat who's not on welfare. In fact, I'm a red blooded All American guy. I served my country for 8 years. Now I'm a medical professional. I don't know how you square that with your statement. You do nothing to advance political debate with that kind of vitriol. Written by Darrel
on 10/17/2007
Audrey George, your statement "and for Jindal, he will wish his parents had never left India......... (RACIST)when he gets the treatment he will deserve if he is "unlucky" enough to win the run off. Are you threatening Bobby Jindal Ma'am?
sounds to me like you are only because his family came from India!! "It will still be a Democratic controlled Louisiana legislature. So, his fun days will soon end!"
So you propose that the democrat controlled legislature NOT co-oporate with the SITTING GOVERNOR just because they are in a different party then he is? AND WHAT WILL THAT DO TO GET ANYTHING DONE IN OUR STATE! NOTHING NADA ZIP BUMPKUS! YOU and the people in the party like YOU ARE THE PROBLEM! YOUR SNOTTY EGOTISTICAL KNOW IT ALLS that THINK your better than EVERYONE ELSE! you THINK its your RIGHT to TELL people HOW TO VOTE because your SO MUCH BETTER, SMARTER! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TELL ANYONE HOW THEY SHOULD VOTE! I guess when you talk about our congressmen you CHOOSE to FORGET that Bill I gots dollars in my freezer Jefferson is one of those "Worthless reps OHHH thats right he has a d next to his name so according to
YOU and your party he can do no WRONG!....... Audrey George
YOU ARE A RACIST AND YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED!!
Written by Fed Up with RACIST dems!
on 10/17/2007
Audrey, your table is ready. Fidel, Karl, Hugo and Mao are waiting for you. Written by Professor
on 10/17/2007
I am very please to see that Louisiana is finally getting more in line with the rest of the South and most of America. In a few years the Louisiana Democratic party will consists mostly of welfare recipients and left wing kooks. This movement started before Kartrina, but Blanco spead things up - BIG TIME! Having her serve as governor is one of the best things that ever happened to the LA Republican Party. Written by Nolaboy
on 10/17/2007
I think that there will be a big surprise on election night, and that at best, Jindal will get 41 % of the vote.
He has messed up royally, by not wanting to debate, and by not really addressing issues in a truthful, direct manner.
You are right, Jeff, 5 of our 7 U.S. Representatives are"SORRY" Republicans as well as is Senator Vitter, one of our two U.S. Senators.
What have these 5 Representatives done for us.........??? Nada!! They are spineless, and will not buck the Sick Republican Administration for any reason. They know where and especially HOW...their "rancid bread" is buttered, don't they?
Louisianians are not thinking clearly now, but they will be forced to see the light when we have our glorious period in 2009 on....with a Democrat President, Senate and House.........
I can't wait........and for Jindal, he will wish his parents had never left India.........when he gets the treatment he will deserve if he is "unlucky" enough to win the run off. It will still be a Democratic controlled Louisiana legislature.
So, his fun days will soon end!
Written by Audrey George
on 10/17/2007
Frankly, Jeff, dear we believe that we must, as citizens of Louisiana, followe the lead of another drummer other than the drum major the Republicans have up for governor this go round, just as we did before. The only problem is that the Pied Piper of the Republican Party in this state cannot even toot his own horn in the debtates. Written by RhettsWife
on 10/17/2007
As we reach the final hours, U.S. Congressman Bobby Jindal (R-Kenner) is within grasp of reaching the ultimate prize, election as the next Governor of Louisiana. Just like David Vitter in 2004 in the U.S. Senate race, Jindal is on the verge of a primary election victory. According to recent polls, the Kenner Congressman is the overwhelming leader in the race and has shown incredible resiliency despite plenty of attacks from his opponents. He has near 50% support in the polls. Running second is not one of his opponents, but the undecided vote. If Jindal picks up at least some undecided support, and keeps his same level of support, he should be able to win the race in the primary election. 
