Every gubernatorial election has a turning point when things get just weird enough to justify the price of admission. That turning point is happening right now, writes Jeremy Alford in his latest column.
Businessman Eddie Rispone of Baton Rouge napalmed the rest of the top of the ticket with two contrast ads last week, hitting both incumbent Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards and Congressman Ralph Abraham, a fellow Republican from Alto.
During the cycle’s first televised debate, many assumed Rispone would come out swinging, likely to the beat of own his attack ads from the days prior. But instead, Rispone took a cue from late President Richard Nixon, who was fond of saying, “When the action is hot, keep the rhetoric cool.”
Rispone sat back as the governor fielded criticisms from Abraham, who clearly intended to make the debate about him and Edwards only. The incumbent, who can return a punch, took the bait, allowing Rispone to cool his heels as his opponents squared off.
“I’m just watching two politicians go after each other,” Rispone said when he was allowed to speak following one such dustup.
By launching attack ads against anything that wasn’t nailed down on the campaign trail last week, and by transforming into this kind of hybrid candidate (maybe the blended product of Donald Trump meets Ross Perot meets John Kennedy meets Warren Buffet), Rispone has become the official risk-taking candidate with the wild card bid to watch.
As of two weeks ago, I wasn’t certain where Rispone’s campaign was headed. At least we know now it’s going to be entertaining. Every gubernatorial cycle seems to flip a set of political fundamentals upside down, like Edwards long shot win in 2015 over a heavyweight Republican in a GOP state.
Read Alford’s full column. Send comments to editor@businessrepot.com
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
