EVEN IF all the polls predicted it, this election result was a stunner by any measure. On November 21st, Louisiana, among the reddest of all American states, became the first in the deep South to elect a Democratic governor in more than a decade. The last time the Pelican state elected a Democrat to statewide office was in 2008.
And yet here was John Bel Edwards—a little-known state representative from a rural area best known for bequeathing Britney Spears to the world—positively thumping his GOP opponent, Senator David Vitter. His margin of victory was 56-44, a landslide by most definitions. But the major story line of this election was not the ascent of Mr Edwards, who, even after his surprising win remains something of a mystery to most Louisianians. It was the epic crash-and-burn of Mr Vitter, once the state’s dominant Republican, now on his way to Palookaville.
Mere months ago, Mr Vitter appeared a potent political force. He had raised more money than his three major opponents combined. He was considered a master strategist: he had never lost a race over more than two decades in office. And he had helped elect...Continue reading
Source: United States http://ift.tt/1lF22om
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