[StBernard] Boasso thinking of a Party switch, but not likely this weekend

[Westley Annis]

Boasso thinking of a Party switch, but not likely this weekend    
Written by Christopher Tidmore and Bob Christopher     
Thursday, 19 April 2007  
Boasso Invited To Switch Parties 

By Christopher Tidmore & Bob Christopher
www.thenew995fm.com
  

State Senator Walter Boasso says that he is thinking of switching parties,
but he will not do it by the weekend as some had thought.  Lt. Gov. Mitch
Landrieu believes that the State Senator will be welcomed. 

CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH WALTER BOASSO
http://www.thenew995fm.com/cc-common/podcast.html  

On the day that republican Walter Boasso entered the race for governor, the
most powerful republican in Louisiana urged party members to line up behind
Bobby Jindal.  

U.S. Senator David Vitter told his supporters that by uniting early behind
Jindal "we can provide his campaign with the momentum he needs to win." 

Not long after, the leaders of the Louisiana GOP threw their support to
Jindal who has now amassed a campaign war chest of over $5 million.    

Boasso, a 46-year-old wealthy businessman from St. Bernard, now says he has
been approached about switching parties and there are rumors that he may
make that switch as early as this weekend. 

Boasso, who says he was a Democrat for the majority of his life before
switching to the Republican Party in the 1990's, says it doesn't make a
difference to him whether the Democrats solve the state's problems or the
Republicans.  

Boasso told thenew995fm.com, "I grew up in a Democratic family.  My father
was a union electrician. My mother was a school teacher.  This is where we
have to go in Louisiana's future.  One thing I know is I'm not going to
change who I am because of a party label." 

"I don't think people care which party governs. They just want good
government," the State Senator said, but refused to definitely answer the
question of whether or not he would become a Democrat. 

In the last couple of legislative sessions, the State Senator has tried to
limit total amount of income taxes anyone would have to pay to the State to
$25,000 and supported school vouchers ardently.  Both are stands sure to
aggrevate liberals and teachers' unions respectively. 

Boasso said that his conservative stands should not stand in the way of
getting support from the Democratic electorate.  "Voters choose the person,"
Boasso said. 

He did interject that he had no plans to change parties by this weekend, as
some sources had reported. 

Boasso has been elected to office as a Democrat.   He sat on the St. Bernard
Parish Democratic Executive Committee in the early 1990's, before switching
to the GOP and running for the State Senate.  

Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu told 99.5 FM that Boasso's decision reminds him of
the path to power of the last governor.  "It reminds me of what Governor
Foster did the week of qualifying, when he ran.  He was a Democrat when the
qualifying week started.  By the end of the week, he switched to the
Republican Party." 

Foster, though, was a very conservative Democrat.  In switching parties, he
argued that he was only joining his natural poliltical home.  Boasso also
has a very conservative voting record.    

Landrieu agreed with Boasso, saying that despite his conservative stands, he
could find a home in the Democratic Party.  "I don't know, Senator Vitter
with his credentials is supporting Rudy Giuliani, so anything's possible." 

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO MORE OF LANDRIEU'S VIEWS ON THE RACE, AND WHY THE
LT. GOVERNOR DECIDED NOT TO RUN, AT NEWSMAKERS ON DEMAND. 

http://www.thenew995fm.com/cc-common/podcast.html 

The only announced Democrat contenders are Foster Campbell of north
Louisiana and Raymond Brown of New Orleans.  Brown has already acknowledged
he has no chance to win. 

U.S Senator John Breaux has opted out of the race. Lt. Governor Mitch
Landrieu declined to run.  And although he has been encouraged by many to
enter the race, Congressman Charlie Melancon has repeatedly stated that he
will not be a candidate for Governor. 

Weighing their options are former Congressman Chris John and Louisiana
Treasurer John Kennedy.