On Saturday, U.S. Congressman Bill Jefferson (D-New Orleans) led a large field of candidates in the race for the 2nd Congressional District seat. Jefferson ran first with 25% of the vote, followed by Helena Moreno at 19.9%. These two candidates will face-off in a run-off that will take place on November 4.

Clearly, Jefferson is the strong favorite to win re-election. With the increased turnout expected among African-Americans to support Obama in the presidential election, Jefferson's chances will only improve. The 2nd Congressional district is composed of approximately 63% African Americans and 31% white voters, giving Jefferson a clear edge.  

The polls did not indicate that Jefferson would run first by such a comfortable margin. Why did it happen? In the campaign, Jefferson was able to galvanize his base of supporters, while the other segments of the electorate split their vote among the other candidates.

Now, for this run-off, Bill Jefferson will be facing the one candidate that he can defeat, Helena Moreno, a Hispanic, is a 30 year old former television news anchor. Moreno is hoping that her appeal to female voters will outweigh the advantage that Jefferson has with African American voters, but that hope is wishful thinking.

Moreno will be a distinct underdog because she will have a very hard time lining up the endorsments of the losing candidates. Most of them will probably refrain from an endorsement, hoping to keep their options open in case Jefferson is convicted and has to vacate his seat.

What will the re-election of Bill Jefferson indicate to the rest of the country? Certainly, it will not be a good sign that an indicted congressman has finished first in the primary election. It seems to indicate the politics as usual still remains in effect in Louisiana.

Bill Jefferson, aka Dollar Bill, has a well deserved reputation for corruption. He is facing a 16-count indictment and has a variety of family members facing indictment as well. He has never adequatedly explained why he stored $90,000 in cash in his freezer. It looked suspicious then and still looks the same way now. What is amazing is that 25% of the voters in the 2nd Congressional District had no problem with Jefferson's conduct and are willing to elect him to another term. It is a short-sighted decision partially influenced by racial solidarity as well as empathy for a politician that they see as being unfairly attacked.

In the end, by sending back to Congress a U.S. Representative who has no influence on Capitol Hill and has been kicked off of his important committees, the voters of the 2nd Congressional District are in effect only hurting themselves.