Billy Tauzin (party switcher and the primary pimp for the Medicare bill) retired this year. The frontrunner for the seat has been his son, Billy Tauzin III. But there has been some bitterness over the nepotism issue, because another Republican, state senator Craig Romero, was vying for the seat but was shunned by the party establishment. Polls showed that he was building enough strength to head to the runoff w/Tauzin, but ugly anti-gay
mailers hit his campaign right before the election. The Democrat,
Charlie Melancon, squeaked into the runoff.
There were more Republican votes than Democrat, but given that there was only one major Dem running, that's not a big hurdle to overcome. Romero is refusing to endorse Tauzin. While he also is not endorsing Melancon (yet), he seems to blame Tauzin for the slander that sank his campaign. Melancon seems to be pretty socially conservative and also very critical of NAFTA. Do you think that Democrats can pick up this district? That Melancon got in even though this was a very red year for LA suggests maybe he can.
Do you think that Willie Mount can win in John's old district? Cravins, the Dem who missed the runoff, is upset because of fliers from the Dem party that endorsed her, or something like that.