A new style and tone for Louisiana politics

Moreover, many of the governors or would-be governors of the past have been colorful characters. David Duke, a well-known white supremacist, ran for governor as a Republican 12 years ago and managed to garner 39 percent of the vote. Edwin Edwards, a Democrat, is now serving time in federal prison for taking kickbacks on offshore casino contracts.

He devised the open primary system in the 1970s that surely contributed to Blanco's Democratic victory. In those days, when the Deep South was a one-party Democratic region, all the Republicans in Louisiana could have almost fit onto one Mardi Gras float. In 1975, Edwards got 62 percent of the vote. Natives here rank him second only in political charm to the Godfather of Louisiana politics, Huey Long.

Blanco is a Cajun, of French descent, and is popular in the heavily Cajun precincts across southern Louisiana. She held her victory party in the heart of Acadiana, in Lafayette rather than New Orleans, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She picked up a large percentage of the women's vote, despite being an antiabortion Catholic.

Blanco also did well with African-American voters, especially in New Orleans, in spite of a tradition-breaking endorsement of Jindal by black Mayor Ray Nagin. "I think it represents the desire for Louisiana people to really make a serious change and put our crazy politics of the past behind us," she said after the election. "We want to be part of the mainstream of America."

Of the three crucial constituencies in Louisiana, Jindal did well with white Protestants in the northern half of the state, but ended up with only 42 percent. Republican Gov. Mike Foster, unable to run for reelection after eight uneventful years in office, supported Jindal, his protégé, publicly proclaiming his brilliance for turning a $400 million Medicaid deficit into a $220 million surplus. Jindal ran a series of radio ads taking a strong stand against abortion, gun control, gay marriage, and Hollywood.

On the campaign trail and in debates, he touted his faith and his conversion from Hinduism to Catholicism while a student in a Baton Rouge high school. He also supported public display of the Ten Commandments, a hot button political issue in much of the South. But his conservative Christian stands, and his testimonial of coming back home to turn his state around, were not enough to propel him into office. Louisiana is the only state in the Deep South that suffered net out-migration in the past decade. At least 75,000 more people left than moved in.

The business climate ended up being the main theme in the campaign. It was an issue both candidates agreed on, which may have disappointed those who watch Louisiana for the carnival of corruption that has entertained in the past. The Better Government Association ranks Louisiana 46th among the states on its Capital Integrity Index, and many here thought Jindal could be the one to turn the state around. Now it will be up to Blanco.

• Wire service material was used in this report.

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