At the close of qualifying, it became obvious that the race for lieutenant governor between Republicans Jay Dardenne and Billy Nungesser would be decided by Democratic voters. To that end, Nungesser is making a concerted effort to enlist the turnout support of black political leaders, according to some who have been contacted. Dardenne can count on the support of friends among black leaders in his Baton Rouge base, but the Plaquemines Parish president is calling and visiting leaders and ministers in New Orleans and all around the state. “No Republican has reached out the way he has,” says Tony Clayton, the Southern University board chairman and a political leader active in the River Parishes. Clayton, who supports Dardenne, says the incumbent can “stem the tide” somewhat through robo-calls using known figures, especially in the Capital Region.
—Gov. Bobby Jindal appears not to be waiting until the elections are over before taking the temperature of the Legislature on the leadership races. Lawmakers say they are being called in for individual meetings with Gov. Jindal and Chief of Staff Stephen Waguespack and being asked three things: their top three choices for speaker of the House and Senate president; who they don’t want; and what committees they want to serve on. Waguespack confirmed that subject matter of the governor’s visits. “Getting the leadership right will be important for everyone,” he says.
They said it: “I think a lot of them are going to wonder: ‘Why hasn’t he taken me to lunch?’ ” —C.B. Forgotston on Rep. John LaBruzzo, R-Metairie, using $18,000 from his campaign account for meals, often listed on disclosure reports as “constituent meals,” in the Gambit
(John Maginnis publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at Lapolitics.com).
