State Democrats expected to pick new chairman at Saturday meeting in B.R.
by Ed Anderson - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

In the wake of recent political setbacks, the governing board of the state Democratic Party is expected to select a new chairman when it meets Saturday in Baton Rouge. And the odds-on favorite for the job is former state Rep. Claude "Buddy" Leach of Calcasieu Parish. The meeting of the Democratic State Central Committee, the 210-member body that governs the party, was called after former state Chairman Chris Whittington announced in late December that he was stepping down to deal with his law firm's growing business. Several members of the committee have blamed Whittington for recent election setbacks, including the shrinking number of Democratic seats in the congressional delegation. The current nine-member delegation has just two Democrats: U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville.