LA-Gov; Republicans Just Got REALLY Lucky

Former Senator John Breaux (D-Louisiana) will NOT run for Governor this year. Breaux says he is not running because he did not get a definite answer on whether or not he is qualified to run for Governor as he has lived in Maryland since his retirement in 2005.

That leaves no major Democrat in the race against the already powerful candidate, Republican Congressman Bobby Jindal of Kenner, who has a massive lead in polls.

Rep. Charles Melacon of Napoleonville, a Democrat, is also not running. That leaves the only announced candidates on the Democratic side as Foster Campbell, a member of the Public Service Commission and Rev. Raymond Brown, a New Orleans civil rights activist.

Democrats will scramble for a big name candidate. Former Attorney General Richard Ieyoub comes to mind, as does Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu, and former Congressmen Cleo Fields and Chris John. (Fields lost to Republican Mike Foster in a landslide for the governorship in 1995.)

Fun Fact: If Jindal does win the race in November, he will be the youngest Governor in the country, at age 36; one year younger than Governor Matt Blunt (R-Missouri)