No Clear Favorite In Louisiana Senate Race

NEW ORLEANS (AllPolitics, Nov. 2) -- After facing the possibility of being shut out of the Nov. 5 Senate runoff in Louisiana, Republicans now find themselves with at least an even shot of picking up the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. J. Bennett Johnston.

Republican state Rep. Louis "Woody" Jenkins topped a 15- candidate field in the Sept. 21 primary and is facing Democratic former state Treasurer Mary L. Landrieu, the second-place finisher, in the runoff. All candidates run on the same ballot in Louisiana's unique primary; if no one receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two finishers, regardless of party, advance to a runoff that coincides with the national Election Day.

Jenkins' first-place primary finish was remarkable, given that he and the five other GOP candidates were mired in the single digits in state polls through much of the primary campaign. The only two well-known Democrats in the race, Landrieu and Attorney General Richard P. Ieyoub, led most polls.

After Republican officials failed to narrow the GOP field by encouraging candidate withdrawals, key party figures rallied around Jenkins as the contender most likely to make a breakthrough. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, which had been sitting on the sidelines, also threw its support behind him.

Jenkins' big break, however, came when Ieyoub's campaign hit a roadblock. Ieyoub's standing began to crumble after news reports emerged in the last few weeks of the campaign alleging that he had used campaign funds for items such as home improvements and clothing purchases.

Given Jenkins' strong finish and Landrieu's rather weak showing -- she only squeaked by Ieyoub to make the runoff -- the Republican had the momentum coming out of the primary. A poll released shortly after the primary by The Times-Picayune in New Orleans showed Jenkins with a narrow lead. But a more recent poll showed Landrieu slightly ahead.

Jenkins, a staunch conservative, remains challenged to deflect charges that he is too conservative, even for Louisiana. The two candidates provide voters with a real contrast and both moved quickly to paint the other as extreme.

A former Democrat who made unsuccessful bids for the Senate in 1978 and 1980, Jenkins has been a leading opponent of abortion rights in the state legislature. He also calls for abolishing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and replacing the current tax system with a consumption tax collected by states.

Calling himself a mainstream conservative, Jenkins also supports term limits for federal judges and prayer in public schools, and opposes gun control. He claims Landrieu is a classic liberal, pointing to her support for tax increases as a state legislator and for abortion rights.

Landrieu has attacked Jenkins' tax plan as a radical approach that will result in a tax increase on middle-income families, senior citizens and the poor. Landrieu says Jenkins is too right-wing for the state and has released a list of "100 reasons" why he is too extreme for the Senate.

Based on his votes in the legislature and statements he has allegedly made, the list claims Jenkins is against heavier penalties for drive-by shooters and backs eliminating funding for Head Start.

At the same time, Landrieu is attempting to appeal to middle- class voters and working families and is promoting the creation of "educational opportunities" as one of her top issues. Casting herself as a centrist Democrat, Landrieu backs a $1,500 tax credit for middle-class families who are sending a child to college and a $10,000-per-year tax deduction for education.

Landrieu may also benefit from the fact that, since the primary, Jenkins has often had to play defense. News reports revealed that the IRS has in recent years placed several liens on Jenkins' business, Great Oaks Broadcasting, because of his failure to pay his taxes on time. Jenkins eventually paid the taxes, interest and penalties he owed the IRS.

As he entered the runoff race, Jenkins was not as well-known as Landrieu, who won a statewide race before. But Landrieu has her own problems. She needs the strong backing of black voters to win the race, and her relationship with some of the state's African-American leaders has been strained ever since she refused to endorse black Democratic Rep. Cleo Fields for governor in 1995 after being edged out by him for a spot in that year's runoff.

Some black leaders, however, have come around to Landrieu's side, including 2nd District Rep. William J. Jefferson, who backed Ieyoub in the primary.

Congressional Quarterly contributed to this report.

Related Story:

• Court To Let Louisiana Remap Stand -- June 24, 1996

Related Links:

• Louisiana State Profile