The developing political landscape: Is Cao out, Georges out?

1st August 2011   ·   1 Comment

By Christopher Tidmore
Contributing Writer

With just over a month until qualifying for the fall statewide elections, and despite the rhetoric coming out of the Republican and Democratic parties, the irony is how few announced candidates there are to take on the entrenched incumbents.

The list, last week, grew even shorter. In an exclusive, sources close to former Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao have said that the Vietnamese Republican may be reconsidering his potential bid for Attorney General. The reason is the same as virtually all other non-millionaire candidates. In the current economic environment, fundraising is almost impossible.

While Cao has made no public statements, and his aides are quick to say that the former 2nd District U.S. Rep. still is strongly considering a bid, campaign activity has slowed—according to some Cao supporters. In fact, as of last Monday, Cao still had not submitted a campaign finance report. It is a stark contrast to just a few months ago when the former Congressman seemed a strong challenger to incumbent Demo­crat-turned-Republican AG Buddy Caldwell.

When Cao announced his intention to face Caldwell back in April, it seemed that the New Orleans Republican would be able to construct an atypical coalition. With no Democrat in the AG’s race, Cao would be able to merge his political contacts in the Black community, his crossover popularity in Metro New Orleans, and his long contributor list nationally and in the 2nd District, into an unstoppable force against Caldwell. The first-term Attorney General had alienated many Democrats when he switched parties, and despite his high-profile lawsuit against the President’s healthcare bill (filed jointly with several state AGs), Republican leaders remained suspicious of Caldwell’s loyalties.

Of course, after Cao’s vote in the U.S. House for “Obamacare”(as it is called on the Right), the Viet-American Rep. had the same problem. Tea Party voters remained skeptical, and by all ac­counts, contributors followed suit. Moreover, despite initial sympathy, De­mo­cratic fundraisers also reportedly have not wished to antagonize Cao’s successor, Cedric Rich­mond, who had little love for his Republican opponent after their contentious battle in the 2010 campaign.

Caldwell, meanwhile, had built proverbial bridges to past opponents like Crimefighters, Louisi­ana’s largest victim’s rights organization, that had supported Charles Foti in 2007. Helping the organization and others like it sponsor and pass pro-victim’s rights legislation helped heal the one-time breach with Police and Criminal Justice Groups. And, Caldwell, as former head of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, had most of the DAs and Sheriffs already behind him.

As Edwin Edwards once put it, the Sheriffs act like Barons to the King in the Middle Ages. If the Barons are with you, the King is secure.

The Governor’s Race

If Cao’s candidacy is diminishing, Georges is all but gone. The millionaire industrialist and video poker magnate had ex­pressed an interest in late spring in a “statewide office”, and had seemed primed for a rematch against Bobby Jindal as recently as a few weeks ago. The Repub­lican-turned-Indepen­dent-turned Democrat had come in third against Jindal in 2007, only have a disappointing finish against Mitch Landrieu in the New Orleans Mayor’s race just over two years later.

Undiscouraged, for a probable race against Jindal, Georges had loaned himself some $10 million. Last week’s campaign finance reports revealed, though, that the businessman had repaid that loan to himself, and his campaign fund is nearly empty. That does not mean he could not extend the loan once more, but a race against the Republican governor seems un­likely now.

The remaining significant Democrat standard-bearer is Livo­nia State Sen. Rob Marion­neaux. His recent statements that he’s “considering” a run appear to point to a bid if the state party underwrites his race. Marionneaux has some cash to spend left over from previous bids, though. An April filing claimed about $210,000 in his war chest.

However, Marionneaux did not file in the recent reporting period, indicating that he still has not committed to the race. And, his money on hand is dwarfed by Jindal.

As are the funds of the only Democrat who has announced for Governor, Haynesville schoolteacher Tara Hollis. Hollis’ most recent filing said she’s raised about $3,500 so far this year and has a grand total of $953.21 in her war chest, hardly enough to take on Bobby Jindal and his $8.8 million in his warchest.

In an e-mail to supporters, Hollis said since she’s announced her candidacy two months ago, she’s been focused on traveling the state to meet with former governors, Democratic leaders and other state leaders to learn about the issues facing Louisiana.

“I will be rolling out my platform in the following weeks. I believe that money follows message. Fundraising will be a major challenge, but I am confident the money will come,” Hollis stated.

The current fundraising reporting period covers from April 16 through July 14. Jindal’s campaign finance report shows $347,000 for the latest quarter, a decrease from previous quarters, mainly due to the legislative session.

The governor, who spent more than $11 million four years ago, has received in $14.1 million so far this election cycle from more than 25,000 donors.

Jindal didn’t comment Monday on his fundraising figures or Hollis’ report. Campaign spokesman Aaron Baer told the AP, “I think the reports speak for themselves.”

Lt. Gov & Secty of State

The only sitting incumbent with a serious challenge right now, newly elected Republican Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, bested his GOP competitor, Plaquemines Parish Presi­dent Billy Nungesser, $458,000 to $287,000 respectively.

Nungesser has more money on hand, though, $1.1 million versus Dardenne’s $524,000. As a self-made millionaire, Nungesser can self-finance a bid, for what many say it not a lieutenant governor’s race, but a gubernatorial bid in disguise, if Bobby Jindal should take a Cabinet post, or run for the U.S. Senate prior to the end of his second term.

Still, Dardenne has managed to keep the upper hand in the race, having won the special election just one year ago with 60 percent of the vote, and by pointing out that Nungesser endorsed him in that bid.

Dardenne’s Democratic opponent in the recent special election, Caroline Fayard, opted instead for a bid for Secretary of State—Dardenne’s old job—this time around. However, as of last week, Fayard’s latest campaign finance report wasn’t filed, leading to questions of her fundraising.

The interim Secretary of State, Republican Tom Schedler filed a report showing him with $171,000 in his account after raising $79,000. That’s less than Demo­crat-turned-Republican State Rep. Walker Hines of Uptown, who raised $63,000 and reported $206,000 on hand. And, Hines is not considered the most serious of candidates.

Both GOP State House Speaker Jim Tucker and Democrat-turned-Republican Scott Angelle, Gov. Jindal’s Natural Resources Secr­etary and legislative liaison, are both seriously leaning towards a race. Tucker has over $400,000 in his campaign warchest, and Angelle retains monies from his previous terms in office.

The remaining statewide officials — Treasurer John Kennedy, Insur­ance Commissioner Jim Done­lon and Agriculture Com­mis­sioner Mike Strain, all Republicans — all look safe from opposition this fall.

Of them, Kennedy can boast of the most monies on hand with $1.9 million in his campaign account after bringing in $224,000 in the last contribution period.

Donelon raised $136,000, leaving him with more than $619,000 on hand. Strain received $41,000 in donations, loaned himself $250,000 and closed the reporting period with $431,000 in his campaign account.

The sign-up period for the October election runs from September 6-8.

This article was originally published in the August 1, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper