It might be spring, the flowers are out, the bees are humming but the Louisiana politicians are too with now less than one week left to election day.
US Senate Race
John Kennedy
In a newsletter sent out to his audience, it is clear how John Kennedy, candidate for US Senate is positioning himself for his upcoming race against current senior Senator, Mary Landrieu.In the newsletter, he said, “Voters in every corner of our state want an independent-minded reformer to stand up for their values and clean up the mess in Washington. John is a reformer who knows you can't change Washington by sending up the same folks over and over. He’s been fighting for us his whole career. Louisianans know he stood up for taxpayers against party leaders and special interests from both parties. And that’s exactly what he’s going to do as our Senator in Washington.”
Kennedy’s is the Louisiana Treasurer who changed political parties last year to become a Republican.Also changing parties prior to or during their becoming candidates were Walter Boasso (Republican to Democrat) and John Georges (Republican to Independent) who both ran against Bobby Jindal during the gubernatorial race last year.
Is the GOP helping or hurting John Kennedy?
In a series of emails, the GOP is suggesting that Mary Landrieu might be using what is known to be a Rasmussen poll announced in error and cite that the poll was also used by Stephanie Grace of the Times Picayune, also in error.Also, the LaGOP seem to be suggesting that a poll by Bernie Pinsonat, SMOR and Entergy was done to hurt John Kennedy who is opposed Kennedy’s opposition to government assistance.In an email, the LaGOP also also seem to insinuate that Landrieu might be behind that SMOR poll.The upshot would be that Landrieu would have had to collaborate with Pinsonat, Entergy, and Stephanie Grace of the Times Picayune.However, neither the LaGOP or the Kennedy campaign has presented any poll numbers to the contrary.Ironically, the Pinsonat, SMOR poll actually shows Kennedy in a fair position to compete with incumbent Landrieu.The Kennedy campaign has had nothing to do with the GOP “apparent conspiracy linkage” efforts.If the Louisiana Republican Party is going to maintain the credibility it has achieved during 2007, some believe they need to put up the facts of a conspiracy and any Kennedy poll numbers to the contrary or hush.These detractors feel the Republican party needs to put up the facts, their poll numbers and not raise conspiracy theories by ending affirmative statements about Mary Landrieu pushing bad poll numbers with a question mark at the end of the sentence.Many believe that John Kennedy has a good start going into the late spring months and can win over voters based upon his own ideas.However to Mary Landrieu’s campaign credit, one major positive for Landrieu this week was the recent endorsement of the United States Chamber of Commerce, an endorsement which is not common for Congressional Democrats.
First Congressional District
Although that district has for decades been Republican Country, Gilda Reed is buoyed by news reports that indicate that recent elections have not brought out Republican voters and that they might be lured to sleep with what they believe is a “sure win” for Steve Scalise allowing Reed to score an upset victory next Saturday.However, the Louisiana Democratic Party appears to be putting tremendous efforts in the Sixth Congressional District and very little into the First Congressional District which raises the question who is being lured to sleep?
Meanwhile, it is obvious that Louisiana Senator, Steve Scalise, is taking heavily campaigning.On Saturday, he was at the Independence Italian Festival, Downtown Independence and at a private “Meet and Greet” in Franklinton.On Sunday, Scalise will be at Cochon de Lait, in Hammond and on Tuesday, he will be in IndependenceLouisiana.On Friday, Sclise will be in Hammond.
Sixth Congressional District
Republican Chairman, Roger Villere, sent out a “Voter’s Guide” prepared by the Louisiana Family Forum.Tremendous effort is being made by the Louisiana GOP to win it for Woody Jenkins and to defeat Rep. Don Cazayoux.Earlier this week, the GOP sent out an email missive citing examples why Cazayoux should not be elected Congressman for that district.One factor is the unknown of the Independents such as Ashley Casey (Disclaimer: who is advertising on Bayoubuzz) and whether she will draw from Cazayoux or Jenkins.Some political pundits feel she could pull an upset with her more untraditional use of the Internet, however, she does not have the party support behind her which is normally a major asset.