Jindal ahead in poll by SLU

• By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Oct 11, 2007 - Page: 1A

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A Southeastern Louisiana University poll on the governor’s race indicates U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal could be heading into a Nov. 17 runoff.

However, the statewide survey also shows a large number of voters — 29 percent — are undecided or noncommittal with the Oct. 20 primary election nine days away.

Nearly half of the 29 percent represented black voters.

Political consultants said Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell appears to be in the best position to nab those traditionally Democratic votes despite his fourth place finish in the poll.

“My advice to everyone is, whatever you do, do not bet on this one,” said Shreveport demographer and political consultant Elliott Stonecipher.

The poll of 641 registered voters was conducted Oct. 1 to Oct. 6 by the Southeastern Social Science Research Center at Southeastern in Hammond. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percent. The racial breakdown of the voters polled was 29 percent black and 71 percent white.

The poll shows 46 percent favored Jindal when asked who they would vote for “if the primary election for governor of Louisiana were held today.”

State Sen. Walter Boasso drew 10 percent; New Orleans businessman John Georges, 9 percent; and Campbell, 6 percent.

In 2003, the university released a poll showing Jindal and then Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco were neck and neck less than a week before the runoff election. Blanco, a Democrat, won by four percentage points.

Four years later, Jindal is making his second attempt at becoming governor.

Also seeking the job are Boasso, D-Arabi, Campbell, a Bossier Parish Democrat, and Georges, who has no party affiliation.

Southeastern political science associate professor Kurt Corbello, who directed the poll, said he was surprised by the number of voters who still are undecided.

The fact that 35 percent of the undecided voters — not including those who refused to answer the question — points to the lack of a strong Democratic challenger, he said.