Inside Report for September 9, 2008

• By LANNY KELLER
• Advocate Opinion page staff
• Published: Sep 9, 2008 - Page: 7B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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When horribly bad things happen on your watch, it’s usually a bad thing for the politicians in office. Nevertheless, the aggressive response to Hurricane Gustav by Gov. Bobby Jindal — not least in repeated news briefings and highly visible trips to view devastation — has probably burnished the governor’s reputation as a can-do leader.

In an unusual twist, the storm may have helped the leading Democrat in the state just as it helped the leading Republican.

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., faces re-election this year and the storm’s wrath also is an opportunity to showcase the senator doing her job for her constituents.

Her opponent, Republican convert and state Treasurer John N. Kennedy, has less scope to emphasize his efforts for the public because his office is not so directly in the front lines.

The storm also underlines one of the arguments Landrieu’s backers are making around the state: her seniority.

In the U.S. Senate, seniority really matters.

Leaders of committees are usually the senior senators in terms of years of service, and in a third term Landrieu would be not only more senior than many other senators but also a member of the majority party. The latter also matters in terms of clout.

It is almost impossible for Republicans to pick up enough seats to win a majority. Jennifer Duffy, of the Cook Political Report, earlier suggested Democrats might win five new seats in the 100-member body.

Seniority, though, is a difficult concept for voters. In a year when both presidential candidates are pushing a “change in Washington” theme, voters have to make two determinations: One is that seniority is important to the state, and second that keeping in particular Landrieu’s 12 years of service is a good thing.

And as analyst Charlie Cook said earlier, Kennedy is a stronger challenger than Landrieu has faced in her two previous races for the Senate. Louisiana is  unique among the states, in a generally Democratic year, in that state politics is trending more Republican.

Landrieu said she is banking on her supporters in state and local government to make the case to their constituents that the senator’s seniority is an asset.

Landrieu’s endorsements include not only Democrats, such as Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover, but Republicans such as Hammond Mayor Mayson Foster. She is backed by influential sheriffs, including prominent Republicans such as Jiff Hingle of Plaquemines Parish.

“That notion of seniority is of paramount importance at this time,” said Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy, a Democrat.