Ex-con and former governor, Edwin Edwards just announced he's running for Congress. I am usually an optimist, but even I thought there was no chance even for Edwards. But I wasn't alone in my pessimism over Edwards' candidacy. But I and all the pessimists are proven wrong.
BIG TIME!
In a new poll Democrat Edwards is crushing the field leading the nearest competitor by 23 points. This is a "jungle primary" and top two vote getters move to the general election regardless of party unless someone breaks the 50 percent barrier.
Edwards stands at 43% with Republican Dan Claitor far behind with just 20% of the vote.
And, this poll under-polled African-Americans. Only 17.5% of the sample were African-Americans, while 21.7% of registered voters in the district are African-Americans. This bodes well for the former four-time governor who has legendary get-out-the-vote operations. As the architect of Louisiana's civil rights laws, Edwards is extremely popular in the African-American community in Louisiana.
To give an idea of just how big Edwards' impact is, this poll also asked registered voters in the sixth district their feelings on the US Senate race. In that race Republican Bill Cassidy gets nearly 65% of the vote against Democrat Mary Landrieu. Statewide polls have found a tight race for Senate between the two.
Lapolitics.com