Vance McAllister [R] wins 5th District congressional seat [Obamacare Win In Louisiana]

[TomCADem]

Source: Shreveport Times

BATON ROUGE — Vance McAllister, a political newcomer with the backing of the popular "Duck Dynasty" TV family, is Louisiana's newest member of Congress.

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McAllister ran as a political outsider, capitalizing on voter frustration with politicians and Congress. Riser, a funeral home owner, campaigned on his experience in the Legislature and with the support of tea party groups.

Their strongest disagreement was on President Barack Obama's signature health care law.

Both opposed the health overhaul, but Riser wanted only repeal. McAllister said repeal had no chance with Democrats leading the Senate, so he said Congress should work on improvements to the law.


Read more: http://www.shreveporttimes.com/viewart/20131116/ELECTION/131116015/Vance-McAllister-wins-5th-District-congressional-seat-?odyssey=mod%7Cbreaking%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

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Interestingly, a business oriented Republican beat a Tea Party Republican in a conservative district who was the favored candidate. Their biggest difference is that the Tea Party Republican wanted only repeal.

Also, as reported in NPR, "McAllister is in favor of (Medicaid) expansion, saying the state would not be able to cover the costs of the Affordable Care Act without money from the federal government, which would ultimately lead to more cuts in health care and education."

http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/11/15/245440142/gop-candidates-split-over-obamacare-in-louisiana-race

Roy Fletcher, a veteran Louisiana Republican political consultant who's also not affiliated with either campaign, agreed, calling the move a self-inflicted wound. He added that McAllister may be trying to position himself slightly to the left of Riser in a district where African-Americans make up about a third of the population.

Riser has earned the backing of both establishment and Tea Party wings of the Republican Party. Alexander, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Louisiana GOP Reps. John Fleming, Charles Boustany and Steve Scalise all endorsed him early in the campaign.

Recently, groups such as the National Rifle Association, FreedomWorks and the Tea Party of Louisiana also got behind Riser.

[alp227]

1. Even the Democratic mayor of Monroe, LA endorsed the winner

+Original AP link: McAllister wins 5th District congressional seat

Even the Democratic mayor of Monroe, LA endorsed Mac.

And wow no Democrats ran in this district? What is going on with the Democratic Party down in Louisiana?

[cyclezealot]

2. Gerrymandering

is what.. Look at a map of La congressional districts. Pretty creative. The one Democratic CD snakes from Baton Rouse into New Orleans and follows the shores of Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi border. Putting Louisiana's two predominant Democratic cities into one district. Should the voters have any say, La should send at least two Democrats to the Congress.

[Sgent]

3. A Democrat may have run

but wouldn't be on yesterday's ballot.

We have open primaries, so the first election is in October, with the top two vote getters (if no one receives more thank 50%+1 votes) are put on the November ballot.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. This is the 2nd teabagger special election loss (the other in AL). nt

[Glitterati]

5. AND in the deep south

think about that.

[7962]

6. They'll have some excuse for it; "corporate money" or "outsiders" etc

They'll never admit that people are tiring of their "All or nothing" approach to legislation.

[Turbineguy]

7. Yeah, get a funeral home director

to help with healthcare.

[Xipe Totec]

8. LOL! Nailed that coffin shut! nt