Attorney general race expected to be close
Print
Email
Save
Twitter
Social Media
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
- Page 1 of 2
- SINGLE PAGE VIEW
With Attorney General Charles Foti already defeated, the runoff between Democrat Buddy Caldwell of Tallulah and Republican Royal Alexander of Shreveport could go down to the wire, the candidates and political pundits say.
The runoff election is unusual and “historical” because of the public dissatisfaction with Foti for prosecuting some doctors, nurses and nursing home operators for patient deaths after Hurricane Katrina, said political analyst John Sutherlin of the University of Louisiana at Monroe
“Most times our attorney generals get re-elected,” Sutherlin said. “They can typically sit there as long as they want.”
Caldwell, a rural northeastern Louisiana district attorney, won a 4 percent voter edge over Alexander on Saturday, but both admit the two northern Louisiana candidates must reach out more to the southern half of the state to win.
Alexander, a lawyer and former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander, who is not related, said Tuesday that he is gearing up for more fund-raising with plans to canvas southern Louisiana.
Alexander, 41, said he is particularly targeting Republican strongholds like St. Tammany and Jefferson parishes, where Caldwell received more combined votes on Saturday.
“It’s what I call the Jindal base,” Alexander said, referring to Republican Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal of Kenner. “It’s a very energized base.”
Caldwell, 6th Judicial District attorney, was already filming a new commercial Tuesday afternoon and preparing to hit the road for more fundraising and campaigning.
Caldwell, 61, was the leading vote getter Saturday with 36 percent, and he carried 26 of the state’s 64 parishes. Alexander and Foti tied at 32 percent, with a 6,000-vote edge for Alexander. Caldwell won the state’s three largest parishes, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson and Orleans.
Caldwell said he is confident — but not taking anything for granted — and that his experience and campaigning will cross party and racial lines.
With three decades in criminal and civil law to his name, Caldwell said, Alexander’s complete lack of criminal court experience is more of “what’s gotten us in the fix we’re in now.”
Caldwell said he expects to soon receive a “groundswell of support from the law enforcement community.”
Foti’s absence makes it a one-on-one Republican and Democrat contest.
- NEXT PAGE »
- 1
- 2
 | ||||
| Most Popular | Most Emailed | Hot Topics | ||
