Jeffersonians Backing
Jefferson
For the first time since he defeated Marc Morial in 1990, Bill
Jefferson has a significant challenger in his race for reelection. Public
Service Commissioner Irma Muse Dixon has been holding fundraisers, advertising
and garnering some key endorsements. Among her supporters are Gov. Mike Foster
and the good government group, the Jefferson Alliance, who made a surprise endorsement
of the challenger a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, the 12-year incumbent does
have a formidable array of the Jefferson Parish political leadership in his
corner. Supporting Jefferson in his reelection bid are Parish President Tim
Coulon, District Attorney Paul Connick, Assessor Lawrence Chehardy,
Gretna Mayor Ronnie Harris, Westwego Mayor Robert Billiot, Lafitte
Mayor Tim Kerner, Kenner Mayor Louis Congemi and Parish Councilmember
Donald Jones. Jefferson has already begun his media campaign, and direct
mail is starting this week. Unless former New Orleans mayoral candidate Clarence
Hunt begins to mount some type of campaign, it looks like a two-candidate
race right now.
Cooksey Sees JP as Key to Victory
From the beginning of his campaign, Congressman John Cooksey has looked
to Jefferson Parish as the key to his victory in the U.S. Senate race. Cooksey
has enjoyed the support of Jefferson Parish Assessor Lawrence Chehardy,
who is famous for his ability to deliver votes for the candidates he endorses.
Now Chehardy and other Cooksey supporters
have a Jefferson Parish headquarters from which to operate the campaign. On
Saturday, Cooksey opened his Metairie office at 1000 Veterans Memorial Blvd.,
Suite 201. Cooksey already has headquarters in Monroe, Baton Rouge, Lafayette,
Hammond, Shreveport, Mandeville and Franklin and will soon be operating in Lake
Charles and Alexandria.
The congressman has been buoyed by a recent
internal Democratic poll showing him in second place with more than 20 percent
of the vote and Sen. Mary Landrieu below 50 percent of the vote. Cooksey
continues to crisscross Louisiana speaking to groups small and large in his
quest to defeat the popular Landrieu. Lately, Cooksey has benefited from the
strong support of Gov. Mike Foster, who hosted a fundraiser that sources
report will generate $150,000 for the Cooksey campaign. One Cooksey staffer
reports that "the governor is calling all of his Governor's Club members and
asking them to support Congressman Cooksey." With Suzanne Haik Terrell receiving
a hefty financial package from the National Republican Senatorial Committee,
Cooksey needs the financial muscle of Foster and his friends to compete with
his well-financed opponents in the final few weeks.
Perkins Campaign Transition
Top aide to U.S. Senate candidate and State Rep. Tony Perkins, campaign
manager Jon Bargas, has departed the campaign to join a firm on the Northshore.
Bargas recently left the campaign to begin work for Innovative Advertising,
a public relations and media company based in Covington. This departure will
undoubtedly be a setback for Perkins in the homestretch of the race. Bargas
has been credited for his tireless work in overseeing all aspects of the campaign
over the past few months. His job duties will now be assumed by other staffers.
In recent polls, Perkins is in fourth place;
however, the candidate expresses optimism that he will make a December runoff
election. "Our campaign has an unprecedented network of grassroots support that
will make the difference on Election Day," says Perkins, who is considered to
be the most conservative candidate in the race, with a strong base of Christian
evangelical support.
Debates, Debates and More Debates
As the races for Congress and the U.S. Senate reach the final stretch, several
key debates have been scheduled to help voters make up their minds before Nov.
5.
On Wednesday, Oct. 16, the Republican Party
of Louisiana in East Jefferson will have a U.S. Senate candidate forum featuring
only the three Republican candidates at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner.
Also that day, the Alliance for Good Government will hold forums for the candidates
in the 1st and 2nd Congressional district races.
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the St. Bernard
Parish Council Chambers, the Alliance for Good Government will sponsor the first
U.S. Senate debate featuring incumbent Mary Landrieu and her challengers.
Following the Alliance debate, at least three statewide televised debates will
be held featuring all of the major candidates. On Monday, Oct. 28, WGNO-TV will
co-sponsor a debate with other ABC affiliates in the state. On Tuesday, Oct.
29, WWL-TV will host a televised debate, and on Wednesday, Oct. 30, WVUE-TV
will join other Louisiana Fox affiliates in hosting a U.S. Senate debate.
Voters will, therefore, have at least four
opportunities in the final days of the race to see all of the candidates square
off in a debate format. Without doubt, this relatively sleepy race will significantly
heat up in the next few weeks.
