[StBernard] Advocate article (from print version), 9-11-07

[Westley Annis]

Jindal tells supporters runoff likely in race
 
By Michelle Millhollon
Capitol New Bureau
 
U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal said Monday that he is preparing for a runoff in the
governor's race despite being touted as distant front-runner.
 
Jindal, R-Kenner, said he is not putting much stock in polls that show him
winning outright in the Oct. 20 primary election.
 
"The polls last time said I was going to be governor," he siad, referring to
the 2003 election that he lost to Gov. Kathleen Blanco.
 
Blanco is not seeking a second term. Thirteen candidates - including Jindal,
state Sen. Walter Boasso, D-Arabi; Public Service Commissioner Foster
Campbell, a Bossier Parish Democrat; and New Orleans John Georges, who is
not affiliated with any political party - are vying to succeed her.
 
Jindal's campaign manager, Timmy Teepell, told supporters in an e-mail this
weekend that Boasso and Georges have spent $6.2 million on television ads
and, "they show no signs of slowing down."
 
"It is likely that our victory will not come until the runoff election on
Nov. 17," he wrote.
 
Teepell also warned supporters "to expect a continuation of the distorted
smear campaign" from Jindal's opponents and the Louisiana Democratic Party.
 
Jindal said he expects a runoff based on the number of candidates running,
the amount of money being spent and negative ads.
 
"We are absolutely expecting a runoff. We wanted our supporters to get ready
for that," he said.
 
Jindal would not speculate on who might make a runoff other than to say he
expects to be one of the two candidates on the Nov. 17 ballot.
 
Shreveport demographer and political pollster Elliot Stonecipher said the
Jindal campaign probably is growing concerned about the possibility of low
voter turnout.
 
The primary election coincides with LSU's home football game against Auburn.
In north Louisiana, hunting season could divert voters from the polls.
 
"His chances of winning in the primary are not helped if on top of that his
voters feel like they can afford to stay home," Stonecipher said.
 
If anyone has a chance of facing Jindal in a runoff, it if Boasso, he
predicted.
 
Boasso is a wealthy businessman who has been running television ads across
the state for weeks.
 
Baton Rouge pollster Bernie Pinsonat said low voter turnout swept Edwin
Edwards into the Governor's Mansion in 1971.
 
Edwards defeated J. Bennet Jonhston by 5,000 votes in the runoff.
 
Johnston's supporters in north Louisiana assumed Johnston was a shoo-in and
decided to hunt instead of vote, Pinsonat said.
 
"Campaigns are notoriously scared to death of their voters being
overconfident," Pinsonat said.