Displaying items by tag: Eddie Rispone

It is never easy to defeat an incumbent Governor of Louisiana. Our Governors are very powerful with access to plenty of statewide appointments, ever present publicity opportunities and enormous amounts of funds from the state budget.

Not surprisingly, the last time an incumbent lost the race was in 1991 when then Governor Buddy Roemer failed to make the runoff. Of course, that was the infamous election between Edwin Edwards and David Duke.

A year and a half ago, according to a Bernie Pinsonat--Southern Media Opinion Research poll, John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, polled at a whopping 65 percent. Today, Pinsonat believes Edwards polls in the low 50’s.

Edwards is up for re-election against major candidates such as Congressman Ralph Abraham and multi-millionaire Eddie Rispone.

So, what gives? The Louisiana budget crises, for now, is a thing of the past. The last legislative session this spring was boring, meaning, it was successful. A storm just slammed Louisiana which emergencies normally help a governor show leadership during a crises. So, why would there be a drop of perhaps fifteen percent since last year?

And, they're off!!

Well, not actually. If you've been laboring over Louisiana favorite sport lately, the once-every-four-years gubernatorialcampaign, you can rest a spell.  The ponies really haven't even goten up to the starting gate. Not yet.  And that won't take place, according to Louisiana pollster Bernie Pinsonat, until after Labor Day. And when it does arrive and we all collectively wake up and smell the prospects of a real horse race, all bets could be off as to the outcome.

Well, kinda.

If you didn't know better, you might think that President Donald Trump was running for governor as a Republican against John Bel Edwards, the incumbent and a Democrat.

Newbie political candidate, Eddie Rispone, a Baton Rouge businessman, who has his own rags to riches story to tell, essentially has made Trump his running mate with his TV advertising. Rispone backs Trump, donated to him and mentions the president throughout the ads.  Rispone, a virtual unknown in the state had to introduce himself to the voters for the first time. He chose to align himself with the national figure that the vast majority of Republican voters adore.

There is nothing bigger in Louisiana politics than a Governor’s election, especially a competitive one, like the upcoming campaign. In this race, voters will have the option of three well-funded candidates, Governor Joh Bel Edwards, U.S. Congressman Ralph Abraham and businessman Eddie Rispone, as well as six other contenders, including one, Gary Landrieu, who is a member of a family with a 60-year history in Louisiana politics.

I took a quick tour of two political websites this morning. One was Dr. Ralph Abraham and the other was businessman Eddie Rispone. Both are Republicans. Both are running for Governor.

July 4th has come and gone.

Which means here in Louisiana, during statewide elections year, it’s time to put away the hotdogs and apple pie and roll out the political signs. After all, the governor’s race is heating up as the hot “dog days of summer “ wear on.

On Monday, the current inhabitant of the mansion, Governor John Bel Edwards unleashed his first campaign TV ad. While his political foe is one very successful  Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone and one powerful  Congressman, Ralph Abraham, at least for now, neither are directly the ad target.  That honor goes to—you guessed it—none other than former Louisiana Governor and past-GOP rising star,  Bobby Jindal.

Psst… Wake up.

Don’t tell anyone, but we’ve got a "red-hot" statewide election here in Louisiana in just a few months.  In fact, all Louisiana legislators are up for either re-election or are vacating their seats due to terms-limits. There might be a legislator here or there just throwing in the towel even before their time expires. 

Ok, stop your yawning. You're not interested, you say?

Well, positions such as Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Insurance Commissioner are all up for grabs. Oh, did I not mention, the big kahuna of all, the top spot, Louisiana Governor? This is currently held by Democrat John Bel Edwards. No doubt, replacing him is top on the agenda for the Louisiana Republican Party.

Sorry, was that a "ho-hum" or "hum-dinger"?  

Oh, I see. Well, does anybody know? Does anybody care?

Well, if you’re running for office, absolutely. But, if you’re Mr. or Ms. Average Voter, maybe not.

So, it's Bayoubuzz Louisiana E-Mail bag time.  'Tis the latest electronic missive, this one, received today, sent by the Louisiana Republican Party.

Dear Louisiana voters,

You're not doing so well after all.

Signed,

LAGOP

The Louisiana State Republican Party is doing what all political parties do at this stage of the election campaign.  When more than one candidate runs under the party banner against the incumbent from the other party, the challenging party strikes deep and often.  The usual party mission? Not so impossible--send out daily emails, criticizing the incumbent. In this case, the Republicans are taking on Governor John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, who happens to be defending his seat against two rather unknown political personalities. One is Congressman Dr. Ralph Abraham, a conservative from North Louisiana and the other, Eddie Rispone, a Baton Rouge businessman.

Today's daily missive has takes aim at Edwards by using just-released compative statistics as its weapon of choice. The issue? State unemployment, slow population growth, departure of the best and brightest and weakness in the civilian workforce.

Here is today's e-political scorcher, hot off the press:

Next Tuesday New Orleans businessman Gary Landrieu officially joins the race for Governor of Louisiana. Landrieu, who has previously run for U.S. Congress as a Democrat, changed his party identification to Independent. Currently, there are 1.3 million Democrats, 900,000 Republicans and over 775,000 Independent voters in Louisiana. The fastest growing segment of the electorate in the past year has been Independent voters.