The Hotline's December House Cleaning
LA 02: Jefferson's Day
Rep. William Jefferson (D) defeated state Rep. Karen Carter (D) in the LA 02 runoff. Results with 100% of precincts reporting (LA Sec/State).
LA 02 Runoff
votes %age
Jefferson 35,121 57%
Carter 26,985 43
Considering Jefferson's win, the "laggard pace" of the criminal probe "may have worked to his advantage. Jefferson "never missed a chance" during the campaign to "remind voters of the universal presumption of innocence." U-NO prof. Susan Howell: "He was able to convey to black voters that he was beleaguered, persecuted and unfairly treated by the Republican Department of Justice... He was able to discredit the FBI." What's more, the "widespread post-Katrina disgust with the federal power structure" may have helped him.
Jefferson managed to "mitigate the loss of his traditional base of black voters" with "newfound support among white voters." He scored a "decisive win" by "routing" Carter in Jefferson Parish, drawing 70 percent of the vote in the suburban precincts. That may have "attested less to his appeal" than to the power of Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee, whose "bitter attacks" on Carter appeared to have "been a factor" in "sharply suppressing turnout" that Carter needed, especially among white voters. About 120,000 of the CD's voters are registered in Jefferson Parish, but turnout was a "dismal 15 percent" -- half of what it was in the primary (New Orleans Times-Picayune).
Yet Jefferson Parish voters also may have had "selfish motives" behind their vote. If Jefferson is forced to resign, they could "get another crack at electing one of their own" -- state Sen. Derrick Shepherd (D), who ran third in the primary but won in Jefferson Parish. Shepherd backed Jefferson in the runoff, and "never denied" he would "make another run at the seat if it became open" (New Orleans Times-Picayune).
TX 23: They've Lost That Loving Feeling
Pres. Clinton swung through San Antonio Sunday "to wind up supporters" of Rodriguez. Clinton: "You couldn't have a clearer choice. You couldn't have a better candidate. And you've got just about 48 hours to bring this home." His 20-minute speech was "laced" with jabs at Bonilla. Clinton zeroed in on Bonilla's "votes against the minimum wage," which provoked a response from Bonilla spokesperson Phil Ricks. Ricks: "All of the small business owners... tell him if they had to pay a higher minimum wage, they would have to lay off workers in order to do that."
Meanwhile, Sen. John Cornyn (R) stumped for Bonilla 12/10 in Hondo, TX. Bush nephew George P. Bush will campaign for him this afternoon. (San Antonio Express-News)
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