Reply #12: I wouldn't read much more into this than Louisiana has a new Governor. [View All]

Politics in that state bear no resemblance to what happens in the rest of the country. Even the Dems there tend to be a lot more conservative than the average DUer, and I think that is probably representative of the voters (overall) in that state.

I think the oil companies and chemical corporations carry a lot of weight down there (they are major employers and serious campaign contributors in the state) and as a result you see a lot of votes coming out of the Louisiana Congresspeople that make no sense to the rest of the Dems.

Voters look to their own PERSONAL interest when they go into the voting booth. For most people it is not as much about ideals, as it is about "what are you gonna do for me?" Louisiana voters are no exception to that, I think.

Everybody in that state was impacted by Katrina in some way or another, and I don't think it is any real surprise that the party in power when it happened (Dems) got nailed in the next election. THAT anger, however, is a phenom based on he handling of one specific event. This is a localized thing, I suspect.

The DNC is in good shape for now, and barring a major screwup between now and the Presidential election I don't think the GOP will do well.


Laura