With 2018’s session-palooza out of the way (hopefully), Gov. John Bel Edwards can begin focusing on re-election, writes Jeremy Alford in his latest column.
Edwards is not on the ballot until next fall, but for all practical purposes, he’s has been in campaign mode since his last bid ended in 2015, Alford writes. Such is the nonstop nature of modern elections, and such are the fundraising requirements for any serious candidate.
“Pretty soon you’ll begin to see key staffers fall back from their roles in the Edwards Administration, on the government side, to assume positions in the re-election campaign,” Alford says.
Even if you truly believe Edwards’ election was a fluke—the result of him facing a wounded opponent in the runoff—and that opportunities for policy achievements this term have come and gone, you’d still be a fool to count the governor out. His first year fundraising haul broke recent gubernatorial records, national Democrats will be standing firmly by his side and Edwards, quite frankly, is a tenacious street fighter. He was born with fire in his belly, Alford writes.
“That said, Edwards’ supporters should prepare for the fight of their lives,” Alford says. “Boosters who were onboard for round one may not return for the sequel, as is sometimes the case. More importantly, there’s still the political equivalent to an eternity (well, not really) left to play out in this term,”
Time equals exposure and exposure equals risk, however minimal, for the Edwards campaign. Like their counterparts in D.C., national Republicans are also going to show up armed to the teeth with resources. They’ve got some fire in the belly, too.
All of these burning stomachs should make us wonder why there hasn’t been more of a public effort on the GOP side to coalesce around a single candidate. There are a few acceptable reasons.
Read the full column, where Alford dissects the potential GOP candidates for governor.
Jeremy Alford publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com. Follow him on Twitter, or on Facebook. He can be reached at JJA@LaPolitics.com.
