[Mary Landrieu's father, Moon, was mayor when I was involved in New Orleans politics and I did work for him and also candidates who followed him. Landrieu was an extremely popular New Orleans mayor and, as I recall, the last white mayor, back in the early 70s. I'm surprised Landrieu didn't get a stronger showing in this race.]

Dec. 7 Election Is Final Battle

POSTED: 6:01 p.m. CST November 5, 2002 UPDATED: 10:59 p.m. CST November 5, 2002

NEW ORLEANS -- For incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu, Tuesday's election was more a question of whether she would face a runoff rather than whether she would win the most votes.

Analysts spent much of Tuesday trying to determine the effect of the bad weather on voter turnout, particularly the Democratic voter who, historically, has been less inclined to go to the polls in Louisiana on rainy days. [I don't buy this argument. It rains often in southern Louisiana and people are used to it. If they really wanted to vote, they would have gone anyway.]

Landrieu began her Election Day morning at Avondale Shipyards, then moved to a phone bank. There, along with fellow Democratic Sen. John Breaux, about a dozen supporters worked the phones, calling Democrats, but Independents and Republicans who have either voted Democrat or suggested that they might.

As Landrieu voted, state Democrats were dispatching cabs and limos free of charge to those who needed a ride to the polls. The practice, which has been questioned by some, is legal. Federal law stipulates that while a candidate can't pay voters, they can provide transportation in a federal election.

Meanwhile, Republican Suzanne Haik-Terrell, who will face Landrieu in the runoff, was in New Orleans Tuesday, even though her campaign party is in Baton Rouge. Terrell said her daughter had a volleyball game in Metairie, and that even during a campaign, her family comes first.

Terrell began the day by voting at Lutcher Elementary School, where she also took time to talk to voters and try to gain some last-minute support.

At noon, Terrell followed the "good luck" ritual she said she follows before every election -- eating a po boy at Domilise's sandwich shop on Annunciation Street.

The Terrell campaign had said pre-election polls showed Landrieu did not have the 50 percent of votes she needed to win outright.

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2002

Answers

Landrieu may have tough time in Senate runoff

By GUY COATES The Associated Press 11/6/02 5:32 PM

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- Republican candidate Suzanne Haik Terrell said President Bush is ready to campaign for her in Louisiana as she works to defeat incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu in the Dec. 7 runoff for the U.S. Senate.

"Whenever we need him, he'll be there," Terrell said. She told reporters at a Wednesday afternoon news conference that she had talked to Bush that morning.

Earlier Wednesday, Landrieu challenged Terrell to a series of weekly debates leading up to the election, and said that if Bush comes to Louisiana, "I won't have a cross word for the president.

"I have supported the president on many issues. But, when he would privatize Social Security, cut benefits of veterans and cut highway programs, I vote for Louisiana."

The race was once seen as a possible tiebreaker for control of the Senate, but the campaign emphasis changed a bit Wednesday as it became clear that the GOP had already retaken a majority of at least 51 seats.

Terrell had campaigned saying Bush needs Republican help to pass his agenda. On Wednesday, she said Landrieu, who led in Tuesday's unique nonpartisan election, will be part of a minority in the Senate. Louisiana needs a senator in the majority, Terrell said at a news conference.

Landrieu needed 50 percent plus one vote for a Tuesday victory. She got 46 percent in the field of nine candidates. Terrell, the state elections commissioner, earned a spot in the Dec. 7 runoff by finishing second with 27 percent.

All other Senate campaigns were completed Tuesday, one-on-one affairs since the candidates had earlier gone through party primaries. In Louisiana, regardless of party, all candidates run at the same time.

Democrat senior Sen. John Breaux, a Democrat from Crowley, "is a good senator but he's now in the minority," Terrell said. "We need a strong senator in the majority."

Landrieu, at a news conference in New Orleans earlier, said the most important issue in the runoff campaign is who can best represent Louisiana, who is willing to back President Bush when it is good for the state and willing to vote against him when his bills are bad for the state.

"I don't remember one of my opponents in this campaign using the word 'bipartisan.' We cannot have partisan politics. We cannot be a rubber stamp for the president," she said.

Terrell dismissed the rubber stamp remark, calling it "regular Democrat machine rhetoric."

Terrell also said she talked with Gov. Mike Foster and will meet with him in the next few days to discuss what possible role the Republican governor will play in her campaign.

Foster has been at odds with Terrell over patronage appointments after Bush's 2000 victory. The governor supported the Senate campaign of Congressman John Cooksey.

When asked if she would invite former President Bill Clinton or his vice president, Al Gore, to Louisiana, Landrieu said only, "I welcome help from everybody. I'm looking for four percent -- just four percent."

Landrieu said she spent most of her primary campaign time defending herself from "trash and distortions" of her record made by the three major Republican candidates.

Landrieu called for debates on such issues as education, highways, the military and health care -- beginning Thursday continuing every Thursday through the campaign.

Terrell agreed to debate Landrieu but said the staffs of both campaigns must get together and work out schedules. The Landrieu camp must make the first telephone call, she said.

In the primary, repeated Republican ads accused Landrieu of refusing to debate, even after the four major contenders, including Landrieu, were meeting in televised forums.

Two other Republicans, Cooksey of Monroe and state Rep. Tony Perkins of Pride, together polled 24 percent and have given their support to Terrell.

Landrieu carried all but eight of the 64 parishes. However, when the votes of the three Republicans are combined, they beat her in 43 parishes.

Landrieu acknowledged that "we need a stronger turnout in the runoff."

Voter turnout was about 44.5 percent, surprisingly high after a lackluster campaign by all candidates and a growing voter apathy in Louisiana. Of the 2.8 million registered voters, 1.25 million voted in the Senate race.

State election officials had predicted a turnout of 38 to 40 percent and were ready to bring that figure down when rainstorms swept the state on Election Day.

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2002

They do know about umbrellas, right?

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2002