The four main gubernatorial candidates have similar ideas on a number of issues. The one thing that is likely to divide their appeal to voters is the state's budget.
Legislators, operating under guidelines set forth by Governor Bobby Jindal, floated the item in the last legislative session. Revenue forecasts lead many political observers to believe the budget is again top priority for the state's next leader.
"The budget will divide the candidates. The devil will be in the details of how each of them plans to address the issue," says University of Louisiana at Monroe Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley, a panelist in KEDM's Policy and a Pint.
Stockley says another interesting item to watch in the October election is how top Democratic candidates fare in the Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State races. "Democrats aren't faring very well statewide. If Senator Landrieu can go down, then any and every Democrat is vulnerable," he said.
The Attorney General's contest is gaining attention as the incumbent, Buddy Caldwell, and his major opponent, Jeff Landry, are both Republicans. The state GOP is backing Landry, while some parish Republican organizations support Caldwell.
