The Louisiana congressional delegation proved hard-to-get on votes to raise the debt ceiling this week, which also sparked a public clash between its most senior and junior members. A pointed exchange of letters to the editor in The Advocate between Sen. Mary Landrieu and Rep. Jeff Landry could be opening volleys in a future election match-up. Landry is cited by politicos and at least one press account as a potential challenger to Landrieu in 2014, though he might have to get in line with other Republicans aiming for her seat. The Landry camp acknowledges the existence of Senate race rumors but is not commenting on it. For the record, a spokesman said the congressman has not yet decided what he will do in 2012, when he would have to run against Rep. Charles Boustany in a new Third District that’s more favorable to Boustany.
— For all the speculation buzzing about it, the secretary of state’s race is taking its time in forming. Tom Schedler, who moved into the job last year after Jay Dardenne was elected lieutenant governor, formally announced his candidacy Thursday. Speaker of the House Jim Tucker might have something to say about the race in his appearance before the Baton Rouge Press Club on Monday. In Monroe this week, Tucker, R-Terrytown, said he planned to announce next week. Tucker might have delayed some while Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle called around two weeks ago, weighing his statewide options. Three sources who spoke with Angelle says he had settled on running for secretary of state over lieutenant governor. But his silence since then raises new questions about whether Angelle will run at all.
They said it: “You’d be shocked if I told you that didn’t bother me.” —Gov. Bobby Jindal on “liberal groups like the ACLU” targeting him, in The Times-Picayune
(John Maginnis publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com.)
