April 23, 2006

THEY'D AT LEAST REVERSE THE ECONOMIC BOOM:

Democrats vow to set nation on course (Steven Thomma, 4/23/06, Knight Ridder Newspapers)

NEW ORLEANS — Democrats cast themselves Saturday as the party that will change the nation's unpopular course but hedged on how they would do it.

It's apt that they're still using New Orleans seven months after everyne else figured out that it wasn't an issue that helped Democrats.


MORE:
New Orleans mayor faces run-off (BBC, 4/23/06)

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is to face challenger Mitch Landrieu in a run-off after a mayoral poll considered crucial to the hurricane-hit city's future.

Mr Nagin, criticised by some for his response to Hurricane Katrina last August, got 38% in the first round against Mr Landrieu's 29%.

The poll was dogged by race issues as many of the majority black community are still evacuees.

Mr Nagin caused controversy, saying he wanted the city to remain "chocolate".

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 23, 2006 8:11 AM
Comments

So the Dems will hold onto the Mayor of NO? Does this not bode well for GOP picking up the governorship and other seats in LA as a result of the local Dems mishandling Katrina?

Posted by: AWW at April 23, 2006 9:08 PM

When the incumbent gets 38% of the vote in an open field, it's rarely a sign that they'll clean up in the run-off.

62% of voters chose not-Nagin in this election.

I expect Landrieu to win the next one.

Posted by: Michael Herdegen [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 23, 2006 10:25 PM

Michael, will there be an opposition candidate in the mayoral election, or is the Democratic primary the de facto election for mayor.

Posted by: erp at April 24, 2006 8:00 AM

Don't expect the race card to be touted that much in the national media on this one, even if Nagin does demogauge to raise his voter turnout. With his challenger being the brother of Mary Landrieu, there's nothing for the Democrats to gain, and plenty to lose, if the runoff is played up in the media as a race based primarily on race. As a result, the media will continue to limit their concerns about racial tensions in the Old South to the Duke University lacrosse team.

Posted by: John at April 24, 2006 9:45 AM

erp, the next election will be between Nagin, a former Republican running as a Dem, and Landrieu.

Posted by: Michael Herdegen [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 24, 2006 7:21 PM
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