Pollster: no front-runner in Louisiana Senate race

[Freddie Stubbs]

June 4, 2004

BATON ROUGE (AP) — A new poll in Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race shows U.S. Rep. David Vitter, R-Metairie, maintaining his lead over two Democratic challengers, but the pollster says the race is a dead heat when Vitter is matched against either one.

Vitter has consistently led U.S. Rep. Chris John, D-Crowley, and state treasurer John Kennedy in surveys throughout the spring. In the latest poll by Verne Kennedy of Marketing Research Institute, Inc. of Pensacola, Vitter has 35 percent, Kennedy 22 percent, and John has 18 percent, with 20 percent undecided, and 5 percent going to State Rep. Arthur Morrell, D-New Orleans.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent, and was conducted among 600 Louisiana voters at the end of May. It was done for businessmen around the state.

The fight between John and Kennedy for a runoff spot with Vitter will be tight, with neither having a distinct advantage, the pollster said. John, with his Washington contacts and support from retiring U.S. Sen. John Breaux, has a fund-raising edge, but Kennedy is better-known statewide.

more: http://www.acadiananow.com/news/html/5E180644-1944-44F6-B152-A573A6BF380E.shtml

[Moloch]

1. I am not very familiar with Kennedy...

is he any better than John?

[Hippo_Tron]

2. If we loose this seat, then we will have seriously failed...

We won in 2002 and 2003 when the Republicans were still very popular. If we can't win now, it will be very sad.

[flaminbats]

3. Who will get more KKK votes...David Duke or Chris John?

Chris John co-sponsored legislation condemning the U.N. for using international law as a legal standard to oppose fencing in the men, women, and children of Palestine like animals. This legislation also gives Israel our support of fencing up human beings.

Chris John co-sponsored the legislation that banned stem cell research, and yet he calls himself pro-life.

Chris John wishes to Amend the Constitution, supporting the imprisonment of those Americans who follow the standards of Betsy Ross.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the occupational taxes relating to distilled spirits, wine, and beer.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow distilled spirits wholesalers a credit against income tax for their cost of carrying Federal excise taxes prior to the sale of the product bearing the tax.

To prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages resulting from the misuse of their products by others.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce the tax on beer to its pre-1991 level.

To award a congressional gold medal to a rat like Prime Minister Tony Blair, but save the bronze medals to insult our soldiers who are wounded in battle.

Here's one to the foreign corporations...To amend the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for certain distributions from a controlled foreign corporation to encourage companies to invest in worker hiring and training, infrastructure investments, capital investments, financial stabilization of the company, and research and development.

To establish and implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program that will result in an environmentally sound and job creating program for the exploration, development, and production of the oil and gas resources of the Coastal Plain, and for other purposes.


One thing seems clear, Chris John has never meet a credit card or lobbyist he didn't love. And this is after he voted for the Iraqi War resolution and for all of Bush's tax increases. My feeling is that the Democrats will split their votes between Morrell and Kennedy.

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. Every single member of Congress supported giving the medal to Blair

It pass both the House and the Senate unanimously:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN00709:@@@X

[flaminbats]

5. Good for them!

Another reason to vote against Chris John...

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. So no member of Congress is worthy of reelection?

:shrug:

[flaminbats]

7. This depends on how many reasons there are to vote for them.

My fear with Chris John is that he is far to eager to please the right. A Democrat can win conservatives without abandoning morality and his base. Remember it was angry conservative Democrats who elected Chris John because they were pissed off at Jimmy Hayes for switching parties.

I saw this occur with Zell Miller in 2000. As Lt. Governor he was always the devil of the right, and as Governor the neocons made every attempt to discredit him and to defeat him. But moderates and Democrats stood by him. Then in his race for the Senate he began actively courting the supporters of Paul Coverdell. Most Democrats didn't worry about it because they felt he would always be true to his principles and were desperate for a winner. But in the Senate he took every opportunity he had to attack his own party, to assist in the promotion of Republican candidates, and to disenfranchise those who elected him to the Senate in the first place. Even the Republican leadership couldn't support Zell's insane Constitutional Amendment!

I have seen many southern Democrats begin with moderate voting records, and shift over the years toward right-wing extremism. And these are always the ones who either switch parties or burn the very bridges which make solutions possible on policy matters. John Breaux, on the other hand, is a conservative who has tried to keep these bridges intact. Breaux will not destroy a chance for healthcare reform or improving Social Security just so he can increase his campaign contributions or margin of victory. And I hope that this is the type of candidate Democrats in Lousiana will be supporting for the Senate.

[juajen]

8. Well, guess I won't vote for Chris John

I don't know much about Kennedy or Morell. Guess I'd better get educated.

[flaminbats]

9. Kennedy has the most progressive position on healthcare reform..

and as State Treasurer, is the Democrat with the best chance of winning a likely runoff.

http://www.johnkennedy.com/

[AnnInLa]

10. other issues???

Is he considered a progressive democrat, or a democrat in Repug clothing? What is his stance on women's issues, choice, education? I went to his website, but can't find this kind of info...anyone know anything????

[yankeeinlouisiana]

11. I just sent him an email regarding

the choice issue. I'll report back when I get an answer.

Maybe he's more moderate on the issue. When Gov. Blanco was running I was checking out her website and she didn't have that issue listed either. So, I emailed her and she emailed me back stating she was pro-life. However, I did hear her say, I think it was during the debates, that she feels the laws in place are just find and should stay that way.

It's kinda hard being pro-choice down here.

[AnnInLa]

12. thanks!

I emailed him too....(hope he isn't the paranoid type). I will also post a response if I get one.

[yankeeinlouisiana]

14. I haven't received an email yet, but

I found this paragraph from another post:

"Kennedy supports additional domestic production of oil, but he also talks up alternative, environmentally friendly energy sources. He opposes abortion, but would allow exceptions in cases of rape, incest and danger to the life of the woman, and he supports embryonic stem cell research. The issues he likes to talk about most are job creation and the cost of health care, and he proposes targeted tax credits to address both."

Sort of the same stance as Blanco. I heard Arthur Morrell speak a couple of weeks ago at a MM House Party and I liked him, but I'm not sure if he'll have enough support to send him to the Senate. Kennedy doesn't seem as bad as Chris John would be.

Link:

http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-0/10897...

[dae]

13. I would like to see a debate, I have talked to several friends that

know Kennedy and John and the consensus was Kennedy was the more conservative of the two. I would not have thought it and don't know what it was based on. I am tired of GOP-lite and would like a REAL Democrat representing Louisiana. At least as close as real as we can get away with down here.:)
At least Breaux has remained loyal to the party unlike a certain foul reptile that zig zag Zell.

[TexasBushwhacker]

15. Don't y'all have primaries?

Why are there 3 Dems in the race?

[DaveinMD]

18. everyone

is on the ballot on November 3rd. The top two challengers face off about a month later.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

16. Will we hold this seat?

[flaminbats]

17. Democrats have a better chance here than in Georgia or Oklahoma

we probably have an equal chance of winning here as in Florida and North Carolina.

[DaveinMD]

19. I think

Dems have a good chance in LA, FL, OK and NC.