Is Rob Marionneaux The Dems’ New Hope For 2011?
He’s at least thinking about it. Out loud. In front of reporters.
State Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia, said Monday that New Orleans area businesspeople looking for a suitable candidate to oppose incumbent Bobby Jindal are pressing him to run for governor.
“I think anybody who gets in the race garners 40 percent of the vote,” said Marionneaux, who is term-limited from seeking another term as senator and has cooled on a previously announced bid to run for sheriff.
So far, Jindal’s only announced opponent is a North Louisiana schoolteacher.
Marionneaux admitted it would be a difficult task to made a late start in the statewide race against an incumbent with a $10 million war chest.
“But I don’t think it’s insurmountable,” he said. “I’ve always liked challenges, and that certainly would be one.”
This shouldn’t be a huge surprise, as state Dem chairman Buddy Leach threw Marionneaux’s name out as a potential statewide candidate a couple of weeks ago in a speech.
Marionneaux’s record as a state senator has been mixed. For example, it was his bill in the recently-concluded legislative session which increased the size of the tax credit allowed for folks with children in private schools, and one could make the argument that the Democrat is as strong a proponent of school choice as Jindal is. School choice and educational accountability will, some observers say, be THE issues in this fall’s campaigns.
But while Marionneaux’s more well-known legislative initiative, a repeal of the state income tax, is also a conservative cause celebre, his handling of that legislation was absolutely savaged by analysts who regarded it as a disingenuous attack on the business community. One reason for the negative reaction was that Marionneaux is a proponent of a frequently-rejected oil processing tax forwarded in the past by another potential Democrat gubernatorial candidate, “Bananas” Foster Campbell. He believes such a tax can replace the state income tax’s revenues, but doesn’t appear to recognize that a $3 billion tax hit to the state’s petrochemical industry will likely send the refineries and chemical plants packing along with the jobs they provide.
And then there are the ethics issues. Marionneaux got himself in some hot water due to a somewhat shady action in which he took on a local contractor as a legal client and in the midst of settlement negotiations with LSU essentially offered to author a bill at the legislature to appropriate funds to pay his client. The state Board of Ethics has jumped into the fray on that affair and it’s still not concluded; it’s generally regarded as bad political form to have a major ethics complaint hanging over your head when you run for a statewide office like governor.
But with all his warts, and there are lots of them, Marionneaux is at least a theatrical sort who will earn some media attention. He’ll present an old-line Bourbon Democrat persona, and you’ll hear John Breaux’s name thrown around by comparison if he gets in the race. Marionneaux’s Senate district included LSU, meaning he’d probably run on how Jindal has gutted higher education – something the state’s Democrats have been trying unsuccessfully to make hay out of – and he’s got enough hot air to him and enough legislative contacts that he could maybe rally a coalition of academics, black voters and state employees to the 40 percent he thinks is possible against Jindal.
And if Caroline Fayard could have managed to create a status as a rising star in Louisiana politics (right up to the point when she became a laughingstock with that “I Hate Republicans” gaffe) based on a 43 percent showing in the Lt. Governor’s race last year, Marionneaux getting to 40 percent against Jindal might make him something of a player for statewide office. There are those who have put his name forth as a potential congressional challenger to Bill Cassidy next year, though that’s a pretty hopeless cause.
Winning this fall, though? Not likely. If Marionneaux does get in, it’s because he’s willing to take one for the team and be a hero to his buddies at the state party. Even he’s got to know he’ll be beaten bloody this fall.
A lot of conservatives and Republicans, formerly ardent Jindal supporters, are furious with Bobby for myriad reasons – I get an earful everywhere I go – and Marioneaux’s flirtations with conservative causes will get those votes. He may get their dollars, as well – emphasis on “may” since, to a person, they maxed out on Bobby, to no avail.
While it’s doubtful Marioneaux won’t be bloodied, he might do better than expected.
Doubtful. A dozen years in the Legislature has created a lot of ammunition to use against him. (Just go to http://www.between-lines.com and in the search box type his name, and you’ll see what I mean.) And $10 million+ will buy a lot of ammo to convince all but the most brain-dead or hard-headed conservative, if he’s not going to vote for Jindal, at least not to vote for Marionneaux. Scott’s right, he’ll take one for the team, made more likely by his ego that will give him delusions that he actually could win.
Thanks for the link to your site, Jeff - good information. Nevertheless, there are a lot of angry voters, who never fail to buttonhole me at every opportunity. Some have even gone so far as to describe Jindal as the Republican version of Obama. That’s pretty serious.
Overall, Governor Jindal has done a fantastic job for the State of Louisiana. The only ones really unhappy are those connected with education with all it’s abuse and some state employees. The rest of us in the private sector couldn’t be happier.
You can fool people some of the time, but you can’t fool them all of the time. People are much more informed now then many years back and I think the majority of the good people of LA will see through the smoke and mirrors.
Chemical plants and refineries can’t simply pack up and move. Where would they go? Imagine the environmental impact statements and litigation they would have to go through. The problem with the processing tax is its impact on interstate commerce and it’s possible violation of the commerce cluase of the US Constitution.. Not to mention the wrath of Congress when they find out that Louisiana is financing state government on the backs of every American. Marrionneaux must be going to rely on video poker businessmen to finance his campaign. The Chicago Tribune did an article on the emerging video poker industry in Illinois which mentions the Senator and his activities in Louisiana and now Illinois.
Just remember, any Democrat is a member of Obama’s Mobster Government. Look closely and they make the Sicilian Mafia and Madoff look like Saints. Organized crimes steals billions, Democrat Mobster Government steals Trillions and Freedom as well. We are in the early stages of Tyranny as Mobsters ignore the Constitution and laws of the land. Why should ordinary citizens obey the law when Mobster Government does not.
Jindal has NOT brought many conservatives ideas to the table. Welcome to Mike Fosters third term.
rob who?
Rob “Nanny State” Marionette fits right in with Obama.