The governor’s race remains undecided as Louisiana voters face another call to the polls next month. Here's a look at what the primary election results indicate for the runoff.
Democratic state Representative John Bel Edwards received 40 percent of the votes cast for governor, followed by Republican US Senator David Vitter’s 24 percent.
At election-night gatherings with their supporters, they indicated what to expect in the coming weeks. And the central players in the shadows are clearly President Barack Obama, and Governor Bobby Jindal.
Here’s Edwards:
“We cannot afford a third Jindal term. That is what David Vitter offers you except Jindal on steroids.”
Minutes later, it was Vitter’s turn at the podium.
“Voting for John Bel Edwards would be the same as voting to make Barack Obama governor of Louisiana and put those policies in Baton Rouge," Vitter said.
University of New Orleans political science professor Ed Chervenak says the primary drew only about a 38 percent turnout -- and that’s counting the early voting. But he says more African American voters turned up at the polls than the few who took part in early voting.
Chervenak says Vitter’s strongest support was in the New Orleans metropolitan area. Edwards did well in the River Parishes.
Chervenak says Vitter and Edwards will now be looking to attract support from the large number of Republican voters up for grabs in the November 21 runoff.
