Who are the real Democrats in the race for governor?
by JOHN MAGINNIS - LAPolitics (excerpt)

As if John Breaux's citizenship wasn't hard enough to figure out, the latest campaign puzzler centers around who are the real Democrats in the race for governor.

In Louisiana, party labels have long been matters more of style and convenience than of philosophy or even loyalty. So few voters seemed to care or notice when state Sen. Walter Boasso, a Chalmette Republican running for governor, joined the Democratic Party last week.

Also crowding Boasso in the Republican Party was another big check writer, businessman John Georges, who has lent his campaign $5.5 million to top the $5.3 million that Jindal has raised. Georges has never sought elected office but has helped many Republicans get there, including President Bush, through his generous campaign contributions. But like a lot of Republican contributors playing at his level, Georges has covered the other side of the table some by giving to Democrats too.

He was called on that last week when a Republican operative sent out an e-mail enumerating Georges' Democratic contributions, both to out-of-state and in-state candidates, including Congressman William Jefferson of New Orleans.

Other major GOP players whose buinsesses are affected by government practice similar ecumenism, but they aren't running for governor.