This year, it was a perfect opportunity for Louisiana Republicans to defeat a vulnerable Democratic Governor, the only one in the Deep South. Unfortunately, once again, the GOP lost a race it surely should have won.

It must be nice to be John Bel Edwards. On Saturday, he was re-elected to a second term with 51% of the vote even though Louisiana is a conservative “red” state. Other than Edwards, all statewide elected officials in Louisiana are Republicans. In 2016, Louisiana voters supported Donald Trump in the presidential election by a 58-38% margin over the Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton.  

The groundswell of Republican support for President Donald Trump is simply amazing. It seems to me that not only would Trump survive culpability if he shot someone on Fifth Avenue, but his loyalists “see-no-evil-anywhere” would insulate him even if he downed someone on Broadway, too.

Some call the passion and never-dying support for Trump by his ardents as a cult. Others simply point to his ability to feed the red meat needed to satisfy the angry right wing who has roamed the political wilderness, seemingly forever, without a leader. But, he’s now here and Trump is to be protected at all costs.  In fact, religious activist Ralph Reed claims that evangelicals have a moral duty to support Donald Trump.  Yep. A Moral duty.

For months I have been imploring President Donald Trump to get involved in the Louisiana Governor’s race before the primary election. Initially, it was reported that he would only come to Louisiana for the run-off election.

However, it soon was apparent to this commentator that without the President’s involvement, liberal Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards would probably win the election on October 12 by achieving 50% or more of the votes, thus precluding the need for a run-off election.

After the start of early voting and days before Election Day, President Donald Trump decided to intervene in the Louisiana Governor’s race. The intent of his Tuesday morning tweet was unmistakable. He wants to help both Republican candidates, businessman Eddie Rispone and U.S. Congressman Ralph Abraham, and force incumbent Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards into a “runoff.” The President urged Republicans to vote for “either” of the candidates, referring to them as “both Great.”  

In politics, negative commercials are typical. Experts believe that it works, not in boosting turnout for the candidate attacking, but in reducing support for the candidate on the receiving end.

Thus, voters see it in almost every race. Although consultants, candidates and voters claim they do not like this form of political persuasion, it is pervasive, especially when challengers are trying to catch up to a leading candidate.

As a political issue in the Louisiana governor's race, how important is e-cigarettes or vaping? What about the Louisiana budget and corporate taxes?

These three issues started the first televised statewide debate Thursday night as Democrat incumbent governor, John Bel Edwards clashed with two Republicans--Congressman Ralph Abraham and businessman Eddie Rispone over these and other issues.

The debate was hosted by LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication and Nexstar Media Group TV stations, airing around the state on radio and television and online.

If there is anything to say about this Louisiana governor's race polls this year, they appear to be rather consistent compared to prior years in terms of the potential ceiling for Governor John Bel Edwards.  The surveys that I have seen have put Edwards close to "but no cigar" getting the necessary 50% plus one vote to avoid what would likely be a brutal contest runoff.

In an interview today (approximately 3:36:30 mark) on the Ringside Politics radio show, M-F 7-11 a.m. CT WGSO 990-AM & www.Wgso.com, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise expressed his displeasure with the new attack ad launched by GOP gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone against fellow Republican candidate, U.S. Congressman Ralph Abraham. Scalise said “I don’t think Republicans should be attacking Republicans.”

On Monday, Rispone scorched Abraham in a commercial airing on statewide media markets. The ad hits Abraham for missing too many votes in Congress and not following through on a commitment to donate his congressional salary. It also claims that Abraham used his congressional salary to purchase a $500,000 airplane. In addition, the commercial ties Abraham to Nancy Pelosi, noting that they have voted together 300 times, and mentions that he backed away from President Trump after the “Access Hollywood” recording was released.

Louisiana is the only state in the South and the most conservative state in the nation with a Democrat Governor. Donald Trump earned 58% of the vote in Louisiana in 2016 and there is a decent chance that a Governor who supported Hillary Clinton will be re-elected on October 12 without being forced into a run-off.

Governor John Bel Edwards is a Democrat with conservative views on social issues such as gun rights and abortion. However, he also has liberal fiscal policies. Nonetheless, he is is in a comfortable lead in the homestretch of the race.

I’m confused.  Perhaps  somebody can explain the commercial to me.

Last night, I saw for the first time, a Ralph Abraham campaign commercial that said something I found both shocking and curious.  According to Abraham, as he looks directly and sincerely at the video cameras, the rigs are employing no one and current Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards is to be blamed.