Our Views: Storms force late races
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Without Barack Obama at the head of the ticket, Democrats didn’t turn out in Georgia in nearly enough numbers to defeat U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, the Republican who will now serve a second term.
Tuesday’s runoff was one of several laggard races, including two in Louisiana for the U.S. House that will be decided Saturday.
In Minnesota, a contested Senate race —with incumbent Republican Norm Coleman ahead by a sliver in a recount — will go to the courts and may not be decided for a while.
Still, Democrats have clinched a seven-seat gain in the Senate. In the House, Democrats gained 21 seats this year. But that’s not counting Louisiana’s 4th District, in the Shreveport-Bossier City area.
Longtime District Attorney Paul Carmouche is the Democrats’ hope to win the seat held since 1988 by the retiring U.S. Rep. Jim McCrery, a Republican from Shreveport. Carmouche faces Republican doctor Paul Fleming of Minden. The district has leaned Republican for two decades.
Another race drawing interest — although not positive notice for Louisiana — is in New Orleans. U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, of New Orleans, is under federal indictment, but in the heavily black 2nd District he is favored over Republican lawyer Anh “Joseph” Cao, a lawyer and activist in the large Vietnamese community in eastern New Orleans.
Jefferson’s constituents have stuck with him through several primary elections since his legal problems became public, but Republicans are hoping for an upset, putting some national party money into Cao’s race. The idea is that turnout will be lower in Saturday’s runoff, and turnout of voters angry with Jefferson — particularly white voters — would give the political newcomer a shot.
However, of chances for a party change, Carmouche’s race will be the most-watched.
Both U.S. House races in Louisiana were delayed by hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Saturday’s returns will tell if, because of lower turnout, there is an upset.
Tuesday’s runoff was one of several laggard races, including two in Louisiana for the U.S. House that will be decided Saturday.
In Minnesota, a contested Senate race —with incumbent Republican Norm Coleman ahead by a sliver in a recount — will go to the courts and may not be decided for a while.
Still, Democrats have clinched a seven-seat gain in the Senate. In the House, Democrats gained 21 seats this year. But that’s not counting Louisiana’s 4th District, in the Shreveport-Bossier City area.
Longtime District Attorney Paul Carmouche is the Democrats’ hope to win the seat held since 1988 by the retiring U.S. Rep. Jim McCrery, a Republican from Shreveport. Carmouche faces Republican doctor Paul Fleming of Minden. The district has leaned Republican for two decades.
Another race drawing interest — although not positive notice for Louisiana — is in New Orleans. U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, of New Orleans, is under federal indictment, but in the heavily black 2nd District he is favored over Republican lawyer Anh “Joseph” Cao, a lawyer and activist in the large Vietnamese community in eastern New Orleans.
Jefferson’s constituents have stuck with him through several primary elections since his legal problems became public, but Republicans are hoping for an upset, putting some national party money into Cao’s race. The idea is that turnout will be lower in Saturday’s runoff, and turnout of voters angry with Jefferson — particularly white voters — would give the political newcomer a shot.
However, of chances for a party change, Carmouche’s race will be the most-watched.
Both U.S. House races in Louisiana were delayed by hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Saturday’s returns will tell if, because of lower turnout, there is an upset.
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