Despite being unopposed this fall, U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon still managed to raise more than $49,500 during the third quarter of the year. But rather than blowing it all on his campaign, Melancon used the dough to back Democrats in 24 other states, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission (http://query.nictusa.com/pdf/931/28933511931/28933511931.pdf).

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 The state Mineral Board finally wrapped up its eagerly anticipated lease sales earlier this month, collecting about $43.5 million in total for both September and October (the latter was postponed due to hurricanes Gustav and Ike). It took officials two days to sort through 367 tracts, the most ever handled during a one-month period since 1947.  Read the rest of this entry »

  A special interest group with influential backers hopes to divert lawmakers’ attention away from the financial crisis long enough to convince them that transportation issues are still important. Driving Louisiana Forward (DLF), a nonprofit advocacy group backed by construction and other business interests, is already touting its legislative agenda for the 2009 regular session — or a special session, should one be called. 

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 Lost in the controversial bill tossing a $700 billion life preserver to Wall Street was a significantly smaller provision that could help flood and hurricane victims stay afloat during their own recovery. The new federal law allows Louisiana families who suffered property damage from hurricanes Gustav and Ike, as well victims from the recent flooding in the Midwest, to claim thousands of dollars more in deductions on their taxes.

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The political blog of the Washington Post, called “The Fix,” is reporting this afternoon (Wed, Oct. 15) that the National Republican Senatorial Committee has decided to pull its television ads out of Louisiana’s Senate race, calling the move “a decision that drastically reduces the party’s chances at its lone takeover opportunity in this election cycle” and “bad news for [John] Kennedy’s chances.” 

Read the entire report HERE.

If the report is true, I agree with washingtonpost.com’s analysis: this is not good news for Republican challenger John Kennedy.

• In our cover story, Jeremy Alford takes a look at the Landrieu/Kennedy megabrawl for the U.S. Senate seat…

• Clancy DuBos runs the numbers on the Bill Jefferson/Helena Moreno race for the House of Representatives, and comes to some interesting conclusions. Math don’t lie…

• A stripper-turned-preacher, a rockabilly legend, and the fierce competitors for a drag beauty title are among the subjects of documentaries at the New Orleans Film Festival. Will Coviello, Noah Bonaparte Pais, David Lee Simmons, and Caroline Goyette review some of the more interesting offerings…

• Alison Fensterstock previews the 3rd annual Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival…

• …and there’s a row in our Letters section regarding Clancy’s column last week regarding Entergy New Orleans. Weighing in: a spokesperson for Entergy, the Alliance for Affordable Energy, and New Orleans councilmember Shelley Midura.

Pick up the paper on Sunday, or click back here on Monday.

Contrary to what many expected (and some still believe), voters in the Second Congressional District Democratic primary did not cast their ballots strictly along racial lines on Oct. 4. In fact, nearly two-thirds of the white vote went to black candidates rather than to the sole white contender, former TV newscaster Helena Moreno.

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Can’t find confirmation elsewhere on the Web, but WDSU is reporting that:

Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin may visit Louisiana at the end of this month for a fundraiser.

Insiders told NewsChannel 6 that she will travel to Pensacola, Fla., next week prior to her visit to New Orleans.

Nothing about it on the official McCain/Palin Web site (yet), but the possibilities are intriguing, if not mindboggling. Since it’s deer-hunting season, will the RNC be offering a hunting trip with John McCain’s co-maverick? (Better to go hunting with Gov. Palin than with the current veep, obviously.)

Should Palin’s visit come to pass and you’re unable or unwilling to afford the (no doubt) megabuck donation, you have a more affordable option. Comedian Julie Brown has rewritten her 80s novelty hit “The Homecoming Queen’s Got a Gun,” and is selling her all-new single “The Girl V.P.’s Got a Gun” for the low, low price of only $1.99.

State Rep. Michael Jackson of Baton Rouge hopes to ride the Barack Obama Express like a true Democrat, which he was until a few months ago — before “no party” replaced his official Democratic party affiliation on the ballot. In the race to capture the Sixth Congressional District, Jackson bills himself as an “independent Democrat” and claims ties to Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.  Read the rest of this entry »

While cautious candidates and television’s culture of sound bites might drain any actual debating from the upcoming U.S. Senate debates, communications experts contend the forums still hold value for voters. This year, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, the incumbent Democrat, and state Treasurer John Kennedy, a Republican, have agreed to four public exchanges.   Read the rest of this entry »