[StBernard] The Lone Wolves Roar

[Westley Annis]

The Lone Wolves Roar 
There's nothing the Democrats can do to quiet Foster Campbell, and the GOP
may lose Walter Boasso altogether. 
By Jeremy Alford | 4/25/2007 
  

They're not U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, the Kenner Republican dominating the
race for governor - and both would jump through flaming hoops to prove it.
Foster Campbell, with his country wit and liberal tax ideas, is the
Democratic frontrunner by default who's keeping the political establishment
fearful that his numbers might actually take off. Meanwhile, Sen. Walter
Boasso, a self-made millionaire and former Democrat running as a Republican,
is thumbing his nose at GOP favorite Jindal and openly discussing a party
switch back to his Democratic roots.

A few of the polls released to the public on the governor's race have both
men recording only a few percentage points, with Campbell leading slightly.
It's a far cry from the 40-or-so points Jindal is pulling, but the number of
undecided voters remains high in all surveys - as it should roughly six
months out from the primary. Campbell and Boasso are also far below the $5
million fund raising mark that Jindal surpassed this month. Campbell has
about $1 million in the bank, while Boasso has put up $2 million of his own
cash and is promising to spend twice that. 

But what they both lack in green, they more than make up for in their
convictions. Campbell, a member of the Public Service Commission and former
state senator from Oak Grove, has a silver tongue that he uses to demonize
corporate giants like ExxonMobil and Entergy; he's a Louisiana populist if
there ever were one. That may be attractive to an electorate fatigued over
recovery issues, as was the case with former folksy Gov. Huey P. Long
following the momentous 1927 floods.

The Louisiana Democratic Party, however, isn't jumping to back Campbell.
It'll probably take a vote of the party's state central committee or a
runoff berth for that to happen, says Democratic spokeswoman Julie Vezinot.
"Right now we're helping all Democrats," she says. "The field could become
more packed if a Walter Boasso or someone else comes over into our fold,
though." 

For now, Campbell is more than willing to carry his own water. He is about
to be unleashed on the voting public, as he recently ordered up a large
radio buy to promote his trademark issues: eliminating state income taxes
and replacing them with an updated version of the 1921 severance tax on oil
and gas, only this time on foreign oil processed in Louisiana. It's a
straightforward spot with a dramatic score, and Campbell's camp says it will
run statewide. 

On his most recent campaign finance report, however, only two advertising
expenditures are listed: $125 for KWCL in Oak Grove and $7,000 to WWL in New
Orleans. More bills could come, however, as the report also reveals Campbell
loaned the campaign $300,000 from his own pocket the day before the
first-quarter reporting period ended April 13. 

The media buy was timed to coincide with the federal tax deadline, but it
will also introduce Campbell to Louisiana's voters, some of whom already
know about the man and his message. He has been pushing his populist tax
agenda for more than a decade, this time promising that $3.1 billion in
taxes will be returned to residents if he's elected. But it's the "small
fee" he proposes on foreign oil that will garner Campbell the most
attention. 

Louisiana will gain $1.7 billion in new revenue each year, he says, and more
than half of the cash will go to coastal restoration. That could help
Campbell shore up support in south Louisiana, supplementing his northerly
base, but he'll have to fight the oil industry to gain any real ground.
Larry Wall, a spokesman for the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas
Association, says he has been fielding interviews almost daily to counter
Campbell's claim. "The issue will never have the votes to pass, but just the
talking about the issue is threatening to people who want to move businesses
here," Wall says. 

The oil industry will enjoy a run of free media in coming weeks as
Campbell's ideas are questioned by reporters, but there isn't much brewing
in the way of organized opposition - yet. "If he starts polling higher or is
close to a runoff, we'll be pulling out all the stops," says one industry
lobbyist. 

Having first been elected to the state Senate in 2003, Boasso hasn't had
much time to incur any real political enemies. When it comes to fund
raising, he has one benefit Campbell doesn't: personal wealth. He has
amassed a fortune raising cattle and farming pine, but the bulk of his
income is derived from Boasso America Corporation, a national network of
tank-container facilities for rail, road and marine. (The company also
dabbles in everything from bulk-liquid transportation to emergency-response
tank-trucks.) Boasso can be extravagant; he has a ranch housing zebras and
other exotic animals. He's passionate and compassionate, too, spending
countless dollars to help his neighbors recover. In fact, he hotwired a
school bus in the desperate days following Hurricane Katrina to personally
evacuate people from St. Bernard Parish. 

More than any other candidate running, or thinking of running, Boasso has
the most intriguing story to tell. The Louisiana Republican Party, however,
has already endorsed Jindal, despite the fact that qualifying is months
away. The decision infuriated Boasso, but it ultimately probably didn't
matter much. From the starting gate, Boasso has kept a sense of autonomy in
his camp, and there were even rumors early on he would run as an
independent. "Let's demand we check party labels at the front door and do
what's right for the people," Boasso says.

Roger F. Villere Jr., state GOP chairman, contends Boasso wasn't overlooked
but says the party wanted to be prepared to take over the mansion. "We took
this action because we believe that we must send an immediate and
unmistakable message to the voters," he says. By making that call, Villere
and Louisiana's Republicans may lose a vibrant spokesman, as well as someone
with deep pockets, because Boasso is openly flirting with every other party
but the GOP. 

The strategy might work well for Boasso, who has only released vague parts
of his agenda thus far. It certainly worked for former Gov. Mike Foster, who
switched from Democrat to Republican in the 1995 contest before taking the
whole enchilada. 

Whatever Boasso does, he better do it fast. The news of his potential jump
might be exciting fodder for political junkies, but if it persists for too
long, it could overshadow his entire message and hamper any chance he has of
boosting his fall numbers, says Joshua Stockley, former president of
Louisiana Political Science Association and professor of government at
Nicholls State University.

"This may be a shrewd move to up his name recognition statewide, but if he
keeps shopping around like this there is a real danger people will talk more
about the switch than his agenda," Stockley says. "Both he and Campbell are
second-tier candidates, and they're both looking for ways to increase their
stock."