November 12, 2002
BLUE MOONETTE ON THE BAYOU (via Kevin Whited):
Landrieu in Trouble (The Prowler, 11/12/02)Some of the issues that doomed the candidacy of Democratic Senate candidate Erskine Bowles appear to be clouding Sen. Mary Landrieu's runoff in Louisiana.Bowles failed to make peace with prominent black Democratic leader Dan Blue after beating him in the primary, and paid for it by getting a lukewarm endorsement and poor black turnout. Now, Landrieu is looking at the same kind of mess down on the bayou. Democratic state senators Don Cravins, Cleo Fields and Greg Tarver announced that they will not work on behalf of Landrieu because she has not been supportive of black issues.
Stick a fork in her.
Posted by Orrin Judd at November 12, 2002 3:42 PM
Wasn't there a controversy the last time Landrieu was elected? I seem to remember there were recounts and it wasn't known if she had won for a few days.
Posted by: Buttercup at November 12, 2002 5:49 PMOrrin -- All is not rosy for Terrell -- see this story
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Thanks, pj, I'll post that, but here''s the difference: Ms Landrieu has to try to get Democrat voters to turn out twice in one month, even though they don't much like her.
Ms Terrell has the President to come riding in and say: "It's time to put Republican differences behind us, I need her."
I think this is a very important race/seat. One that Bush and Rove really have to win for all of us, if Louisiana Reps (leaders) are too petty not to care about.
First, Important Seat: Reps could really be only one seat away from losing effective control of the Senate. (Remember that when it was 50-50 Daschle et al demanded and got power sharing/dilution of the GOP nominal leadership.) The point is that control could still be up to Chafee; and control would definitely be up to Chafee AND McCain.
Second, Important Race: There is nothing like winning the first race after a meaningful loss to feel that you are on the way back. (I recall believing -- perhaps others did -- that the first step in the Rep comeback after the 1992 election debacle was Coverdale's run-off victory over Fowler in Ga.) A Landrieu victory, would be spinned as everything from the return of the Black vote to Momma and the ability of "moderate" Southern Dems to keep on fruatrating the GOP.