In a six-minute speech at the annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner ' where the Democratic elite meet, eat and greet, for tickets ranging upwards to $5,000 '' Campbell manages to touch on education, corruption, consumer rights and environmental concerns while being interrupted by laughter and clapping 15 times. Maybe he stacked the crowd, or it could have been the pre-event cocktails, but Campbell brings the house down. He even addresses parts of his speech directly to former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, the presidential hopeful seated among an assortment of Louisiana's political superstars. "It's okay to be a trial lawyer here tonight," Campbell assuredly advises his fellow Democrat. "You got a lot of friends."
Mostly, Campbell puts on a show reminiscent of vintage Louisiana populism. "I took on the telephone companies when I passed the 'Do Not Call List,'" a red-faced Campbell says in his country drawl, arms waving wildly. "I took on the railroads when we needed railroad safety in Louisiana."
Even his campaign's central plank smacks of bygone days when state government stared down Standard Oil. The Campbell Plan would eliminate the state income tax on both individuals and businesses; return $3.1 billion back to those same groups; and raise future money through a 6 percent fee on all oil and gas processed in the state. "They owe it to the great state of Louisiana," Campbell tells the crowd. "If anybody is worried about the oil companies leaving the state, don't worry about it, because they are making $12,500 in net profit per minute."
Campbell leaves the stage to an ovation nearing half a minute. Someone from the crowd yelled out: "Now we got a leader!"
State Sen. Walter Boasso, of course, begs to differ, and was given the same amount of time allotted to Campbell at the fundraiser. Clearly sweating, the bulky Chalmette native and recent Republican convert did his best to cheer for the home team, but he was understandably uncomfortable after joining the fold when the state GOP shunned him in favor of the race's frontrunner, U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal of Kenner.
Boasso, a self-made businessman with one of the best stories to tell in the race (one Nightline report dubbed him a "hero" in the wake of Katrina), was once a registered Democrat. Still, he was unable to let his natural charm shine as his words stumbled out tentatively during his speech. "I really want to appreciate the warm welcome that the party has given to me in coming back home, and I appreciate that," Boasso says in his opening remarks.
As for issues, the speech was thin, not unlike his Web site, which features absolutely nothing under "On the Issues." An ill-advised portion of his time was also spent introducing his opponent. "We have two good Democrats in the race," he says. "Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is a good man."
In return, Campbell pointed to the emperor's clothing. "I ain't never left ya,'" he reminded those gathered. "I'm a Democrat."
The only wild card on the Democratic side of the race is New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, who has avoided answering questions about his aspirations. Julie Vezinot, communications director for the Louisiana Democratic Party, says there haven't been any formal meetings with party leadership, and it's noteworthy that Nagin is raising money outside of the state. (The congressional seat of William Jefferson, the New Orleans Democrat facing federal corruption charges, might go up for grabs.)
But since the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on July 21, the insider buzz has been growing around Campbell, she says, adding that the party is not favoring either candidate. "Foster got overwhelming support from the [Jefferson-Jackson Dinner]," she says, "It appeared to be a great night for him."
Traditional factions of the party Democrats need to win on a statewide level are also inching over. "I've seen some of those stirrings moving in that direction too in recent months," Vezinot says.
State Rep. Juan A. LaFonta, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus and a Democrat from New Orleans, reports that Campbell's grassroots campaign is well underway in the city, although starting off slow with signage only. Boasso's materials, meanwhile, still haven't hit the streets. "This is going to shape up to be an interesting race," says LaFonta, who has not endorsed a candidate.
In an interview following the dinner speech, Campbell embraces the perceived shift ' although surely wondering why it didn't start when he was the lone Democrat ' and predicts key endorsements from labor and teachers will eventually be secured. "I don't think there's any question who the real Democrat is," he says. "I have 32 years of helping people as a Democrat, and I have never thought about switching parties. I'm one of the strongest, white Democrats you'll find in Louisiana."
Boasso shrugs off the assessment, still touting one of his own polls that shows a 10-percentage-point drop for Jindal and a Boasso boost from 6 percent to 21 percent ' this after spending $1.3 million for television ads to increase his name recognition. And therein resides the most noticeable difference between Campbell and Boasso: Money. Boasso spent more on media than Campbell has in his account right now, which is roughly $1.2 million. Presently, Boasso has only $232,000 on hand, but he has already loaned his campaign $1.4 million and can dig deeper if needed. Campbell, meanwhile, is challenged in his fundraising.
In the end, Boasso says his opponent is Jindal, the frontrunner who held at more than 50 percent in Boasso's own poll. He's meeting with black mayors around the state ' Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden introduced him for his announcement speech ' and staffers warn not to underestimate the burgeoning organization. Boasso says he has the time, resources and energy to weather any momentum shifts.
"The Democratic support I am getting comes from those who are ready for someone to take the fight to Bobby Jindal," Boasso says. "They are looking for someone who is willing to challenge Bobby Jindal on his record of following the incompetence of President Bush in Iraq and in New Orleans. And ultimately, they are looking for someone who can beat Bobby Jindal. They know I am that Democrat."
MAY 23 Here's a story in the Picayune about some statistics that must come as a blow to folks who believe that any private school can do a better job of educating kids than any public school: Danielle Dreilinger reports that only 30 percent of the voucher kids are passing. That's less than half of the state wide average, she says. It's an interesting statistic because most of the schools (if not all) taking voucher kids have never had their students' standardized test scores released to the public before.
MAY 23 Stephen Sabludowsky blogs on Bayou Buzz about auditor requests here. Recently the state GOP started crowing about a request from the Legislative Auditor, claiming they were being targeted because of their anti-tax stance. (Uh, your what?) Denial and hyperbole aside, the state Democratic party blew holes in that theory with an email announcing they'd received the same request, Sabludowsky writes here.
MAY 23 Jim Brown blogs about the senate race in this post. He says that, given Bobby Jindal's "lack of traction" on the national stage, it might make more sense for the governor to consider running against Mary Landrieu for the senate seat. Since Tim Teeple left the Cassidy team, it makes sense he might land on a Jindal for Senate team, Brown opines.
MAY 23 In this Louisiana Voice post, blogger Tom Aswell writes of rumors that his nemesis, state Superintendent of Education John White, may be soon departing Louisiana for a federal post. It's hard to believe, given his performance, Aswell says, but stranger things have happened. An anti-White BESE member says that, if true, White is quitting before he can be fired.
MAY 23 In this post on American Zombie, blogger Jason Berry writes about the Mother's Day shooting. Mayor Landrieu said that "this is not who we are," but the fact is, this is New Orleans, Berry writes. The violence infused in the city is the result of a culture created by "sins of omission or sins of commission," Berry writes. It's not a problem that can be solved by legislating, policing, praying or publicizing, he says: Someone's got to understand what's happening first.
MAY 23 This post in the Westside Journal tells us what Port Allen Mayor Deedy has been up to lately: vetoing ordinances, apparently. This story is most interesting, however, when it delves into a petition that has been circulating around the city lately. It accuses the former mayor of a lot of nasty things; the former mayor says it is full of lies and "broken syntax" which may be a larger offense in his eyes.
MAY 23 This editorial posted in The Advocate is a bit confusing. The writing is poor - definitely not up to the usual editorial writing standard there - and the point is hard to grasp. Apparently, the writer is saying that privatization of state efforts is OK, as long as there is oversight and transparency, but Jindal's not good at that, and the legislature shouldn't over-react. Okey Dokey. Can't they get one of them Pulitzer-winning people to write an editorial?
MAY 23 This post on The Lens gives you links to a new Google Earth tool that allows you to see any spot on earth transform over the past 30 years. Bob Marshall, who covers the coast for the paper, says that in the case of Louisiana's coastline, it's possibly something you don't want to see, because it's not a pretty picture. There are several clips here, showing critical areas erode away. For Marshall, it was vindication for all those times he was met with eye-rolling when he talked about erosion.
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