Let’s start this off by saying that the first day of a legislative session, and particularly a regular session rather than the now-customary ubiquitous special sessions of the John Bel Edwards era, is almost always an occasion in which there are lots of dignitaries present. The governor is there and gives a speech, the other statewide elected officials are always in attendance, members of the state’s congressional delegation often show up, candidates for various offices are usually there and you’ll even see the odd quarterback or point guard or local musical artist of note at the Capitol.

So it was hardly worthy of particular note that Ralph Abraham, who represents the state’s 5th congressional district and is seeking office as Louisiana’s governor, happened to be there. Abraham’s Republican opponent Eddie Rispone was also on hand – but as Rispone is a private citizen, he was in the gallery as the events of the session’s opening day unfolded, while Abraham, as a member of the congressional delegation, was seated in a position of honor on the dais in the House chamber.

And Abraham was announced among the dignitaries recognized as the joint legislative meeting commenced before Edwards was to give the state-of-the-state speech. It happened that this year Abraham was the only member of Congress present, which is a function of the congressional calendar (they’re in session this week) and the fact he’s running for governor this year. Senate president John Alario, when recognizing Abraham, joked that he was there for “on-the-job training.”

Nobody would have paid much notice to the fact Abraham was seated at the dais, since that’s relatively unremarkable.

But lots of people notice it now. Why? Because John Bel Edwards’ campaign team couldn’t help themselves but to make a big show of it.

Honest question – does @DocAbraham intend to miss votes in Washington again today? He hasn’t worked a full week this year. He makes $174,000/year. He promised to donate it to sick kids and wounded veterans, but quietly stopped. #lagov #lalege https://t.co/zXF3rcV4wA

— Richard Carbo (@richardacarbo) April 8, 2019

.@DocAbraham is welcome to stand behind @LouisianaGov anytime he wants. 2nd time in one week he’s been behind while the Governor is leading the state. #lagov #TeamJBE #lalege https://t.co/ExFENdYYa0

— Richard Carbo (@richardacarbo) April 8, 2019

When you don't have any money or political support, this is the kind of desperate stunt you have to pull to try to get some attention.

This is honestly sad. #lagov #lalege https://t.co/p7yhoKy1f9

— Eric Holl (@FrederickHoll) April 8, 2019

.@RepAbraham just missed three votes, including a vote on the Local Water Protection Act, a bipartisan bill (passed with only 56 nays) that increases funding to keep toxins out of our water.

He chose pull a stunt and campaign for #lagov instead of showing up for work #lalege

— Eric Holl (@FrederickHoll) April 8, 2019

What the heck is @DocAbraham doing up there in #lalege … he is refusing to do his job as Congressman #la05 … this guy is just too much. Is he so desperate for attention he shows up in the wrong legislature?? #lagov

— Stephen Handwerk (@StephenHandwerk) April 8, 2019

.@LouisianaGov's campaign has certainly had a strong reaction to @DocAbraham being here for Gov's opening speech for session. #lalege #lagov pic.twitter.com/Tm077NMPfd

— Julia O'Donoghue (@JSODonoghue) April 8, 2019

Seems a bit over-the-top, don’t you think? Nobody would have cared that Abraham was there but for the fact that Handwerk, who is the executive director of the Louisiana Democrat Porty, Holl, who is the Edwards campaign’s spokesman and Carbo, who is the governor’s communications director, or was before he left to join the campaign, hadn’t gone positively batty over it.

And making a big deal over Abraham not being in Congress to vote for some meaningless water quality bill that received nearly 300 votes doesn’t exactly resonate as a political winner. Nobody cares about his missing that vote on a bill that would have passed anyway.

This is the kind of thing which indicates how vulnerable Edwards is. Winning campaigns don’t get triggered and go ballistic over little things like Ralph Abraham sitting quietly on a dais while the governor gives a speech.

And while Holl, Carbo and Handwerk shrieked about Abraham’s presence, he proceeded to do interviews with half the TV stations in the state about how awful their boss’ speech was. And then he got to uncork this…

…while his campaign spokesman David Weinman unloaded a rather savage critique of Edwards’ speech…

Today was another demonstration of Democrat John Bel Edwards’ total failure of leadership. The Governor failed to mention why he hasn’t submitted a budget, how he’d fix our crumbling infrastructure, reverse our failing economy, and he even bragged about his massive tax hikes on working people. Louisiana needs a new leader with fresh ideas – not a failed politician with no vision about how to make things better.

What to draw from this? Well, for one thing Edwards’ people are going to be increasingly shrill as this campaign goes forward and it’s going to get very, very nasty – because that’s all they know and it’s also all they have, given that Edwards is really only in office because he was able to leverage David Vitter’s personal dirt into a victory in 2015 and that Edwards’ record in office isn’t one he can particularly run on.

The question is whether Abraham and Rispone are up to the challenge of matching Team Edwards blow for blow. Yesterday, it looked like Abraham’s crew was equal to the task. He won the day just by being at the Capitol, courtesy of Edwards’ spokesmen losing their cool. It won’t likely be that easy the rest of the way.