GOPer Bobby Jindal Wins Louisiana Governorship

Gov. Kathleen Blanco and her fellow Democrats tried to retain control over the state of Louisiana, but the graft, corruption, and sheer ineptitude finally caught up with them. Republican Bobby Jindal, the first Indian-American to become governor won handily in a wide open 10-way race with 53% of the vote.

I'd say that gives Jindal a mandate to govern, and he's going to need all the help he can get to steer Louisiana on the right path to recovery and growth. Putting together a comprehensive flood control program and a rebuilding program for New Orleans will go a long way in that direction.

Jindal had to overcome other candidates who were able to plow millions of their own dollars into the race. He raised $11 million dollars.

Blanco opted not to run for re-election after she was widely blamed for the state's slow response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

"My administration has begun readying for this change and we look forward to helping with a smooth transition," she said in a prepared statement. "I want to thank the people of Louisiana for the past four years, though there is still much work to do in my last few months as your governor."

When he takes office in January, Jindal will become the nation's youngest governor in office. He pledged to fight corruption and rid the state of those "feeding at the public trough," revisiting a campaign theme.

(AP) Louisiana Democratic gubernatorial candidate Walter Boasso hugs a supporter at for his election...
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"They can either go quietly or they can go loudly, but either way, they will go," he said, adding that he would call the Legislature into special session to address ethics reform.

Political analysts said Jindal built up support as a sort of "buyer's remorse" from people who voted for Blanco last time and had second thoughts about that decision. Blanco was widely criticized for the state's response to Hurricane Katrina and she announced months ago that she would not seek re-election.

"I think the Jindal camp, almost explicitly, (wanted) to cast it this way: If you were able to revote, who would you vote for?" said Pearson Cross, a University of Louisiana at Lafayette political scientist.

Jindal has held a strong lead in the polls since the field of candidates became settled nearly two months ago.

But the two multimillionaires in the race - Boasso, a state senator from St. Bernard Parish, and Georges, a New Orleans-area businessman - poured millions of their own dollars into their campaigns to try to prevent Jindal's victory.

The fact is that Blanco was an unmitigated disaster for the state, and her waffling and failure to declare a state of emergency ahead of Katrina's landfall, combined with her failures in the direct aftermath, played a big role in her decision not to run again.