I was born in Boston but have lived most of my life in New Orleans. Hopefully, I have some good news to cheer some people up on a sad day. I also hope I don't offend anyone by moving on to a different subject.
Every six years Republicans excitedly announce that Mary Landrieu is the most vulnerable Democrat in the Senate and will surely lose the upcoming election in this reddest of states, etc., etc., etc. Each election is relatively close, but she has proven that she knows the winning formula for success and the state is surely no more conservative than when she won her first statewide race a few decades ago. There is also some unexpected news that has broken in the past few days that puts her in the most advantageous position she has ever found herself prior to an election.
Shipbuilder, Boysie Bollinger, is the former Chair of the Republican party in Louisiana and one of its two biggest fundraisers year after year, decade after decade. The only other Republican fundraiser in Louisiana that can match his ability and record is real estate magnate, Joe Canizaro.
They have both announced that they will be working on behalf of Democrat Mary Landrieu in her upcoming senate election forsaking the anointed Republican challenger and sitting congressman, Bill Cassidy. This is a stunning development almost without precedent in Louisiana politics.
Here is a link to just one of several stories confirming this unexpected game changer:
Cassidy already had an uphill battle. He has never run in a state wide election and despite being a sitting congressman, he is more or less just "some dude" to most of the Louisiana electorate outside his district. Landrieu already has a far bigger war chest that Cassidy could not match. Yes the usual billionaire suspects, the Kochs, American Crossroads (if they still exist by next year), etc., will do their best, but its already game over when it comes to the money race in this election.
Landrieu is the conservadem that progressives love to hate and she does piss me off from time to time to be sure. She is deep in the pocket of big oil and is usually the last Democrat to go out on a limb for her party's more progressive policies. However when the chips are down and the vote really counts for something she is almost always a reliable democratic vote. She also is a tireless worker for children's issues, a passion that earns her no votes, or campaign contributions. You may not llike her much, but this is a huge victory for the Dems and you can forget about Republicans taking this seat on their way to a majority.