LA Tech at USM: Who's in, out for Bulldogs?

Greg Hilburn | The News Star

Greg Hilburn/USA Today Network

Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham got two boosts in his governor's campaign Thursday, one from a poll showing him in second place leading GOP businessman Eddie Rispone and another securing the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association endorsement.

Both Abraham, a congressman from northeastern Louisiana, and Rispone, a wealthy Baton Rouge contractor, trail incumbent Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards.

The poll, which was paid for by the Abraham campaign, counters a survey released by JMC Analytics earlier this week showing Rispone had overtaken Abraham, who has been the leading Republican through most of the race.

Courtesy photo

Thursday's poll showed Edwards with 47% of respondents followed by Abraham with 22% and Rispone with 20%. Many people view internal polls with skepticism.

"The governor and my Republican challenger have spent a fortune on TV lying to the people of this state about my record and my character, and we're still standing," said Abraham, who's campaign says he's been outspent 10 to 1.

"I'm not going to resort to those tactics," he said. "The people of this state deserve better than that. Republicans must unite to defeat this governor, and I'm going to lead by example."

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Last week the Rispone campaign launched a TV attack ad against Abraham and followed it up with a direct mail piece this week linking Abraham to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, among other criticisms.

Fellow Louisiana U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Benton, defended his colleague on Facebook Wednesday, though Johnson stopped short of endorsing Abraham.

"Let me be crystal clear," Johnson posted on his personal Facebook page. "The accusations that Ralph Abraham is some kind of liberal are pure nonsense. He is a lifelong conservative, a committed Christian, and one of the most honorable men I have ever known."

The poll, which was conducted by Remington Research Group, showed Oscar "Omar" Dantzler, D-Hammond, with 2% and Gary Landrieu, I-New Orleans, with 1% and 8% undecided. It has a margin of error of 4.6%

Lower-tier candidates like Dantzler and Landrieu could determine whether Edwards is able to win the Oct. 12 primary election outright without being forced to a runoff Nov. 16, where the dynamics would change dramatically in a heads-up race with a Republican.

Edwards in the only Democratic governor in the Deep South and Louisiana's only Democrat elected to statewide office and has been a consistent target of criticism of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association.

“The Louisiana Oil and Gas Political Action Committee is pleased to endorse Congressman Ralph Abraham in the race for governor,” said Gifford Briggs, executive director of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association Political Action Committee.

Briggs said Abraham understands the industry's challenges and can help revitalize the energy industry in the state.

The association announced its endorsement for governor and other statewide elected officials during an event at the Petroleum Club of Lafayette.

Other statewide endorsements included: Incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser; incumbent Republican Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin; incumbent Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry; and incumbent Republican Treasurer John Schroder.

The group declined to make an endorsement in the insurance commissioner's race, where incumbent Republican Jim Donelon is facing a strong challenge from self-funded Republican Tim Temple.