Alt-weeklies having fun with No. 2 race

Sometimes endorsements can make or break a campaign. And sometimes, they just plain don’t exist, according to Leslie Turk, editor at Lafayette’s Independent Weekly. After receiving a press release recently from the campaign of Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser touting a number of nods from local mayors, Turk learned at least three were bogus or mistakenly added to the list. Those interviewed—Carencro Mayor Glenn Brasseaux, New Iberia Mayor Hilda Curry and Breaux Bridge Mayor Jack Dale Delhomme—told her to “expect more calls” regarding the endorsement list. You can find the article here. Sources familiar with the endorsement snafu say confusion ensued after a meeting that brought together local mayors and Nungesser. It was organized by Grand Isle Mayor David Carmadelle, who confirmed this morning there was a mix-up between those who were asked to attend regarding an endorsement and others who were merely attending to meet Nungesser and hear him out. Amy Jones, Nungesser’s campaign manager, says the necessary steps are being taken to undo the mess. “It was all just a simple misunderstanding,” Jones says. Nungesser is hoping to unseat Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, a fellow Republican from Baton Rouge, in this Saturday’s election. And on Friday, Nungesser is taking his effort right into Dardenne’s backyard as part of a statewide tour. Specifically, he’ll be at the corner of Corporate Boulevard and Jefferson Highway. Country music crooner Sammy Kershaw and U.S. Sen. David Vitter will join him in the meet-and-greet, but they won’t be alone. “Look for the statue of Drew Brees,” an invitation says. While Baton Rouge residents get to hobnob with the likeness of the Saints’ famous quarterback, the invite to events scheduled Friday in Shreveport, Alexandria and Lafayette came with different instructions: “Look for the giant elephant …” Kevin Allman, editor of the Gambit in New Orleans, clearly miffed that the Big Easy was overlooked by the tour, did some digging of his own on the race and found out that the elephant is named Peanuts. You can find the article here. As for the real Drew Brees, Allman had no insights: “To my knowledge, he hasn’t endorsed anything more controversial than NyQuil.” —Jeremy Alford