Blue Collar Muse

Just a few days after Bobby Jindal’s exciting victory over incumbent Governor Kathleen Blanco, the GOP scores another coup!

Earlier today, Louisiana’s Agricultural Commissioner, Bob Odom, withdrew from the runoff election he qualified for earlier. Odom, seeking his 8th term as Ag Commissioner had received 41% of the vote and Mike Strain, his GOP challenger, 40% to force the runoff. While I’m sure there are other factors involved in Commissioner Odom’s decision, it cannot be discounted that Odom saw the handwriting on the wall. The other 19% of votes cast in the election all went to other GOP candidates. Assuming the obvious, he couldn’t win. Louisiana voters had spoken clearly and Odom got the message.

It didn’t hurt that Republican groups like GOPAC targeted Odom. It also didn’t help that Odom gave them plenty of material over the years having been indicted 21 times on charges of extortion, bribery and money laundering. While some of those charges have been dealt with, Odom still faces trials on some.

Louisiana appears to be going through what may accurately be described as a cataclysmic upheaval in its politcal landscape. Democratic candidates are being tossed out and voters are giving the other side a chance. While it remains to be seen if the GOP can duplicate those results nationally in the next 12 months, one thing is sure. Having been given this chance in Louisiana, the GOP had better not screw it up. They need to keep their promises and remember the differences between the parties or their bayou victories will be as short lived as their national majorities.

Hoping they make the most of this most wonderful opportunity …

Blue Collar Muse

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This entry was posted on Thursday, October 25th, 2007 at 7:58 pm and is filed under 2008 election season, History, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.