Vacancy brings out the politics of politics
News Star (excerpt)

While former Speaker Pro Tem Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, is being sworn into office in the Senate today, a triad of experienced lawmakers is politicking behind the scenes to take her place as the second-ranking member in the governance of the House of Representatives. The last two women elected pro tem at the beginning of their four-year terms, Sharon Weston Broome of Baton Rouge in 2004 and now Peterson, resigned after being elected to the Senate.

(Nobile) Ellington has the most legislative experience of the three, having started his tenure in the Legislature in 1988. He served two terms in the House (1988-96) and four terms in the Senate (1996-2008) before being term-limited. He then was elected to the House again the House again. (Rick) Gallot is serving the last of three terms in the House (term limited in 2012). (Joel) Robideaux, who first won office in a 2004 special election, would not be term limited out of office until 2016, provided he is re-elected.

Rumor around the Capitol is that Robideaux is in the lead for becoming pro tem but it won't be certain until the House convenes. In the past, several candidates for speaker have thought they would be elected until votes were actually cast. It's not an unknown event for people to tell every candidate "You've got my vote." Timmy Teepell, Gov. Bobby Jindal's chief of staff, says the governor likely will stay out of House decision unless "we see a person who is difficult for us to work with."