Tonight, the state of Louisiana is conducting the primary phase of its jungle primary in which all candidates run on the same ballot with the top two regardless of party affiliation. This won't be the case next year with Congress, but statewide races (the Governor's Mansion included) should remain in the jungle.
The Democrats are divided because of the unpopularity of Gov. Kathleen Blanco. The hurricanes that hammered Louisiana in 2005 (Katrina and Rita) put a strain on Louisiana, especially along the stretch from the Sabine River past Acadiana all the way to New Orleans, and the latter as we all know had it especially hard. In fact, the Democrats had such a weak field when Blanco dropped the ball and decided to leave office at the end of this year that they had to get a Republican to run: State Senator Walter Boasso. Boasso is a conservative and pro-business, so if he chooses to stay with the Democrats, this might be a boost to Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy, at least when it comes to pro-business candidates and especially in recruiting Republicans.
On the GOP side, my side of the aisle, the party is united behind Congressman Bobby Jindal, who represents the bulk of the Jeff and the suburban parishes on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. This is the area where my paternal grandmother resides, the district that once belonged to Bob Livingston until he abruptly stepped down and David Vitter until he won John Breaux's Senate seat, and it seems rather odd that most anywhere my paternal, more intelligent, academic and Northern side of the family resides, there is something interesting about their districts. Of course, with mine, we once had Tom DeLay and Ron Paul, but now have a vulnerable Democrat in Nick Lampson. My aunt in PA, if it's Williamsport, has another vulnerable Dem in Chris Carney (who won only because his GOP rival had a run-in with a mistress), and my great-aunt in Atlanta is in Tom Price's district; it used to be Sen. Johnny Isakson in that seat and before that, Newt Gingrich.
Anyway, my hopes are clearly on Jindal, who if he gets 50% tonight is going to be the first House/Senate/Governor post to flip from Democrat to Republican since the thumping of 2006. Louisiana turned him down in 2003, but now they are appearing to finally be waking up.
In another race, the Lieutenant Governor, Mitch Landrieu (Sen. Mary Landrieu's brother who once took a stab at Ray Nagin until his "Chocolate City" army bused in from Houston and shot him down), is himself facing a fight against country singer Sammy Kershaw...But the question is, will that race last into another month? Apparently not, Landrieu's ahead with 52%, two above the boiling point.
But in the real race...the Governor's race to my East:
As of 9:34 PM
Bobby Jindal (R) 51%
Walter Boasso (D) 19%
Foster Campbell (D) 14% (Louisiana's Public Service Commissioner)
John Georges (Indie) 13% (New Orleans gaming and grocery magnate)
Mary Volentine Smith (D) 1% (retired hairdresser whose only purpose for running supposedly is to release a disgraced former governor)
There will be more updates when the time rolls around. At least one, maybe a deuce.
