Mayor Mitch Landrieu continues to stock election war chest
by Frank Donze - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Mayor Mitch Landrieu began the year with a campaign war chest of more than $500,000, putting him on pace to have more than $1 million in the bank when, as expected, he asks voters for a second term in February 2014. After ending 2010 with about $234,000 on hand and listing $204,000 in expenditures in 2011, Landrieu reported a balance of $513,000 as of Dec. 31, according to finance reports filed with the state. Lndrieu, who took in more than $250,000 for his campaign fund in 2010, stepped up his fundraising last year, collecting $482,000 from donors, the filing shows. Wednesday marked the midpoint of Landrieu's four-year term. While he is considered a heavy favorite to win re-election, it is not unusual for an incumbent mayor to continue to raise money to discourage potential opposition.