With Illinois having its say on Tuesday, Louisiana, which will have 46 delegates at the GOP convention in Tampa, is next in line with a primary on Saturday -- and the Republican presidential candidates are starting to focus on it.
This primary is shaping up to be the most important GOP presidential battle in the Pelican State since 1996, when Pat Buchanan effectively set himself up as the conservative alternative to Bob Dole by crushing Phil Gramm in the Louisiana caucus, which was actually held before Iowa in that election cycle.
A poll from Magellan Strategies of likely Louisiana Republican primary voters released on Tuesday finds Rick Santorum leading with 37 percent, followed by Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich who garner 24 percent each. While 6 percent remain undecided, Ron Paul takes 3 percent, but so do two candidates no longer in the race -- Rick Perry and native son Buddy Roemer.
Perry, the Texas governor who had the support of Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, dropped out of the race in January. Roemer, who served seven years in Congress before being elected governor of Louisiana, pulled out of the Republican race but will continue to run for the Americans Elect and Reform Party nominations. The poll of 2,018 likely Republican primary voters was taken March 19 and had a margin of error of +/- 2.18 percent.
With wins in Alabama and Mississippi, Santorum has been campaigning in Louisiana looking for another win down South, but Romney added to his team in the state this week when he unveiled the support of Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain.
I'm happy to have the support of both Jay and Mike, said Romney in a statement. President Obamas economic and energy policies have failed Louisiana and the nation. With the help of leaders like Lieutenant Governor Dardenne and Agriculture Commissioner Strain, we can ensure that we defeat President Obama in November and utilize our vast energy resources here at home.
Santorum is looking to build on his successes in the South with a strong showing in Louisiana. Besides speaking in Louisiana last week after he won Alabama and Mississippi, the former senator from Pennsylvania plans to campaign there on Wednesday with a speech in the morning in Harvey on energy independence and is scheduled to hold a rally in Mandeville in the afternoon.
Much like fellow Catholic Buchanan did back in 1996, Santorum is reaching out to Louisianas evangelical voters. Santorum will be attending a Pentecostal worship service on Wednesday night. After heading to Texas for a speech on Thursday, Santorum will be back in Louisiana on Friday when he is scheduled to hold a rally in Monroe. On Saturday, when the votes are coming in, he plans to campaign in his home base of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Gingrichs only two victories in the Republican primaries have been in the region -- his home state of Georgia and South Carolina. The former congressional leader crossed Louisiana on Tuesday with appearances in Shreveport, Ruston and Monroe, as well as hitting local radio stations. Gingrich plans to continue focusing on Louisiana on Wednesday with appearances scheduled in Pineville, Lake Charles and Lafayette.
While he hails from neighboring Texas, Paul does not have any events planned so far in the Pelican State as he continues his second bid for the Republican nomination.
Jindal, who did receive some national attention as a possible candidate for the Republican nomination, remains on the sidelines, not endorsing any of the Republican hopefuls since Perry ended his bid. Despite being panned when he offered the Republican response to President Barack Obama in 2009, Jindal remains a possible contender to end up as the Republican vice presidential candidate. During his short time in Congress, Jindal served on the Homeland Security Committee.
The Pelican State held a nonbinding Republican presidential primary in early February 2008. With 43 percent, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of neighboring Arkansas squeezed by eventual nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona who took 42 percent. Romney placed a distant third with 6 percent followed by Paul with 5 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
