One Louisiana camp confident, other hoping to confound pollsters

[Judi Lynn]

November 02. 2004 2:45PM

One Louisiana camp confident, other hoping to confound pollsters

By KEVIN McGILL
Associated Press Writer


NEW ORLEANS - Incumbent George W. Bush was so far ahead of Sen. John Kerry in voter surveys leading up to Tuesday's election that a presidential contest seen as too close to call nationally was practically a sideshow in Louisiana.

U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, a Kerry supporter, wasn't exactly conceding the race in the final days, but did lament the Kerry campaign's decision against putting up more of a fight in Louisiana.

The Bush camp, meanwhile, was so confident that it sent Louisiana campaign workers, including chairwoman Pat Brister, to Florida to help with the voter turnout effort in that crucial state. And would-be spoiler Ralph Nader visited the state last week to tell Bush opponents they could safely vote for him in Louisiana without affecting Kerry's chances - a claim hotly disputed by Kerry Louisiana spokeswoman Renee Lapeyrolerie.

Nine electoral votes were at stake in Louisiana.
(snip/...)

http://www.houmatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041102/APP/411020885

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Will Vitter stay under 50%?

I hope so because I want Chris John to win this seat. We need the Senate!

[damntexdem]

2. We need to abolish the Electoral College.

For most Americans, their votes will be seen as 'not really counting.' I had always thought it would be impossible to get an abolish-the-EC amendment ratified, because of the number of smaller states that 'gain' by EC math. But many of those small states are not 'bettle-ground states,' so know that this year they 'don't matter.' At the same time, people in the 'battle-ground states' are wearied by the intense focus there. Maybe sentiment for abolishing the EC could become overwhelming.

And what if Dubya won the popular vote but Kerry won in the EC? Then, even the GOP might be disgusted with the EC. (Of course, it will be better if the high turnout means that Dubya is clobbered in both popular and EC votes.)

Finally, Dems could bite the bullet and combine in the same amendment EC abolition with and end to the ban on foreign-born citizens' becoming president -- Republicans might go for it in hopes that the Governator could run in 2008. The joke would be on them: ending that ban would be more tolerant and democratic. But the important thing would be that it might swing a 'compromise' to also allow abolishing the EC.

It may be a pipe dream -- but it's a pipe worth plumbing.