This wasn’t an overly large surprise, as there isn’t a lot of difference between former state representative John Schroder and state senator Neil Riser from a policy standpoint and the rhetoric between them in the primary of the Treasurer’s race never got so hot as to engender any real reason one couldn’t back the other.

So today when Riser endorsed Schroder, the rest of us could nod our heads and say, “OK.”

Today, Senator Neil Riser endorsed John Schroder for State Treasurer.

“I encourage you to join me in voting early for John Schroder in the run-off election for Treasurer,” said Senator Riser, who has served as a State Sentator for the last ten years.

“I’m honored to have the support of Senator Neil Riser.  Senator Riser has been a strong conservative leader for our state,” Schroder said.

Early voting is currently underway and ends Saturday, November 11. Election Day is November 18.

Interest in the runoff appears low, which could be an indication that voter turnout for the Nov. 18 balloting will be even lower than the miniscule 13.5 percent it was in the runoff. So far, according to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office, there have been 26,000 early votes. And while 5,000 of those have come from Orleans Parish, where there is a mayoral runoff leading to speculation a wide discrepancy in turnout rates could make for an electorate skewed in favor of the Democrat candidate Derrick Edwards, so far the turnout model presents little danger for Schroder’s efforts to win. That 5,000 in Orleans is offset by 2,400 early votes in St. Tammany and 2,000 in Jefferson, and overall the breakdown of the early votes so far includes an 18,000-7,000 white-to-black ratio and a D-R split of 12,400-10,700. Given how many registered Democrats in Louisiana are typical Republican voters, to date it doesn’t appear possible Edwards can win.

But that’s no reason to stay home. By all means go out and vote. A candidate putting forth the time and effort to run for statewide office deserves something of a mandate from the public, and that means Schroder shouldn’t be forced to carry around a turnout number of 13.5 percent or less into office.