3rd Congressional District runoff pits Republicans in heated battle
by Bill Barrow - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

(T)he question is whether Downer can do anything to reverse the Aug. 28 results that left Landry less than 200 votes shy of winning the nomination without a runoff. Landry's vote totals included victories in 12 of the district's 13 parishes. Downer won only his home parish of Terrebonne. Further adding to the challenge is Landry's success in consolidating the support of both the traditional Republican Party leadership structure and the vocal support of tea party organizers who identify overwhelmingly with the GOP. Landry boasts endorsements from nine of the parish-level party executive committees across the district, which spans from St. Bernard and Plaquemines in the east to St. Martin and Iberia to the west. And just days after the runoff, the state GOP took the unusual step of taking sides in an all-Republican affair. Louisiana Republican Chairman Roger Villere, himself a candidate for lieutenant governor, released a statement thanking Downer and third-place finisher Kristian Magar, "I salute both of them and look forward to working with them in the future." But, he added, "It is now time to unite behind Jeff Landry to defeat our well-financed liberal opponent who will be a rubber stamp for Obama and Pelosi." The Louisiana Tea Party, a Baton Rouge-based effort that is one of several tea party organizations, was not so gracious in its endorsement of Landry. The group launched a "Down with Downer" ad online and continues to circulate an online advertisement that calls Downer a "RINO: Republican in Name Only."

COMMENTARY: The only question left in this race is: How Badly Will Hunt Downer Be Beaten? As we said early on in the primary, "Downer's background as a lifelong politician and his pro-big government, pro-tax voting record does not play well with the voters, especially GOP voters. You can stick a fork in him, he's done!"