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re: Edwin Edwards vs. David Duke Governor Race 1991
Posted on 2/9/19 at 3:36 pm to inkorrect
Posted on 2/9/19 at 3:36 pm to inkorrect
Edwin got Duke to run thinking it might force the sitting governor, Roemer, to a runoff. However, Roemer cratered so fantastically as governor that he didn’t even make the runoff. Roemer changed his party after getting elected, ran as pro-business yet had the most anti-business environmental policy of governor, faught the teachers unions, pissed off the sheriffs, even crapped on the preachers.
Roemer is the real story of that election. He so perfectly managed to alienate every constituency that it allowed a charismatic ratical like Duke to beat him for the runoff. Because Edwards wasn’t exactly popular either, and it was a crowded field in the primary, Edwin didn’t get 50% of the vote, and Duke came in second, so they made the runoff where Edwin trounced him.
Roemer is the real story of that election. He so perfectly managed to alienate every constituency that it allowed a charismatic ratical like Duke to beat him for the runoff. Because Edwards wasn’t exactly popular either, and it was a crowded field in the primary, Edwin didn’t get 50% of the vote, and Duke came in second, so they made the runoff where Edwin trounced him.
1
Posted on 2/9/19 at 3:37 pm to inkorrect
Duke signs were EVERYWHERE. I think I remember a few kids were told to put their gym shirts over Duke t-shirts or go home.
This post was edited on 2/9/19 at 3:39 pm
Posted on 2/9/19 at 3:37 pm to kingbob
Yours is the correct analysis. 
Posted on 2/9/19 at 3:53 pm to inkorrect
Welfare reform was badly needed back then. But, anyone who brought it up was denounced as a racist. That obviously didn't scare David Duke, so his message resonated with a lot of frustrated people, even if they didn't support him.
It "started a conversation", though, as welfare reform finally became a topic that could be openly discussed, and was eventually passed into law a few years later by the Gingrich Congress and Bill Clinton.
But, Duke would have been terrible for Louisiana. It sickened me during the campaign seeing "Duke" written in sky letters over I-10 heading towards Texas. I knew I'd have to vote for Edwards.
I grew up hating Edwards, so it was awful having to vote for him in my first gubernatorial election. Louisiana made the right choice, though, and Duke lost by more votes than Bush lost to Clinton in the presidential election. The feds eventually served Edwards his just desserts.
It "started a conversation", though, as welfare reform finally became a topic that could be openly discussed, and was eventually passed into law a few years later by the Gingrich Congress and Bill Clinton.
But, Duke would have been terrible for Louisiana. It sickened me during the campaign seeing "Duke" written in sky letters over I-10 heading towards Texas. I knew I'd have to vote for Edwards.
I grew up hating Edwards, so it was awful having to vote for him in my first gubernatorial election. Louisiana made the right choice, though, and Duke lost by more votes than Bush lost to Clinton in the presidential election. The feds eventually served Edwards his just desserts.
Posted on 2/9/19 at 4:17 pm to inkorrect
Embarrassing,
Posted on 2/9/19 at 4:26 pm to OleWar
Louisiana politics are always a clusterfrick but 1991 was a perfect storm.
Edwards had solid support throughout the state.
Duke had a small but powerful support base.
Roemer had the incumbency but was a minority governor due to Edwards conceding before the runoff and he made a number of big mistakes that turned off groups like the teachers and state employees.
It was thought Roemer would make the runoff with Edwards but instead it was Duke, who was the one opponent Edwards would beat in a walk.
Edwards had solid support throughout the state.
Duke had a small but powerful support base.
Roemer had the incumbency but was a minority governor due to Edwards conceding before the runoff and he made a number of big mistakes that turned off groups like the teachers and state employees.
It was thought Roemer would make the runoff with Edwards but instead it was Duke, who was the one opponent Edwards would beat in a walk.
Posted on 2/9/19 at 4:28 pm to CoolKat
quote:
Won't say who I cast my vote for, but it is not one of my proudest moments, in hindsight.
So you voted for a Klan Grand Wizard and Nazi?
Posted on 2/9/19 at 5:46 pm to inkorrect
I worked in inside sales for a software company in BR. I had people call from all over the US saying that if Duke won the election, they’d boycott all Louisiana businesses. Being a kid from the LP, I didn’t see what the big deal was at the time.
This post was edited on 2/9/19 at 6:06 pm
Posted on 2/9/19 at 6:14 pm to inkorrect
quote:
Edwin Edwards vs. David Duke Governor Race 1991
I can imagine had I been of age to vote in this election I would've been conflicted. Wasn't conflicted in 2016, I was voting Republican regardless and was going to do my part to ensure Hitlery never sat behind the Resolute Desk in a POTUS capacity. Wasn't conflicted the year prior for LA governor, I was more comfortable with Vitter over Edwards because of his conservatism and record in the US Senate though his candidacy could reasonably be classified as a "losing cause" but I'm a forgiving person so his past with the prostitution stuff didn't bother me too much.
Unlike Trump in 2016 in this particular political campaign context, Duke was an actual and bonafide racist, dude was the flipping Grand Wizard of the KKK on the other hand we have Edwards and his reputation and leftist socialist inclinations however Duke was conservative and I vote conservative primarily and know how influential write-ins are in close races with two undesirables representing the two dominant parties. I know, for people like me, voting per write-in would be the logical preference here but knowing the political system like we do, I just couldn't do that and surrender my state over to Edwards cronyism and socialism, I'd reluctantly vote for Duke while disavowing his racism. You're talking about a real dilemma here, man, but voting is a fundamental right here and we are encouraged (should be required IMO) to use it every chance we get to determine our destiny. It is what it is.
Posted on 2/9/19 at 6:19 pm to OleWar
quote:
A better question is what was Louisiana like in 1991
The oil business was decimated
Posted on 2/9/19 at 6:21 pm to dr smartass phd
quote:
The oil business was decimated
Nickel beer in BR though...
Posted on 2/9/19 at 6:24 pm to Y.A. Tittle
quote:
First governor’s race I voted in.
Mine was Treen 83
Posted on 2/9/19 at 6:47 pm to Bulldogblitz
And Mississippi State beat LSU 28-19 at home, on election night.
Frick Curley Hallman.
Frick Curley Hallman.
Posted on 2/9/19 at 6:47 pm to inkorrect
I was at LSU at the time. Couldn’t stand Edwards (democrat crook) and thought Duke was an idiot. On a whim, me and a roomate decided to go to a Duke political rally at the Hilton, now Marriott on College drive, just to hear what he had to say. Walked in wearing a button up polo shirt and a tie. Immediately realized we came to the wrong party. The ballroom looked like a redneck bar with a bunch of wild arse Livingston Parish people. I figured they’d take us for Edwards spies. To say we didn’t fit in would be an understatement. We stayed about 5 minutes and GTFO.
Posted on 2/9/19 at 7:32 pm to SP
I didn't have to think about it, I heard it with my own ears. 
Posted on 2/9/19 at 7:43 pm to inkorrect
I wasn't old enough to vote, but I shook David Duke's hand at the Strawberry Festival in Ponchatula. Edwards was crooked as frick and everyone knew it. DD was proud to be white and the better and more honest man for the job.
Posted on 2/9/19 at 7:52 pm to jdd48
quote:
The only thing we have in common is we’re both wizards under the sheets."
That is my favorite political quote.
Posted on 2/9/19 at 8:04 pm to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
Not alive so I can’t say, but it’s a sad commentary in LA politics that the better candidate won and that candidate was Edwin fricking Edwards
Interesting that there are more people that think David Duke was a better candidate based on the downvotes of your post. Not surprising around here but still interesting none the less
Posted on 2/9/19 at 9:24 pm to byeyoutiger
Clyde Holloway was in that race too. EWE got the black vote in the primary---Duke got the white racists votes and Holloway and Roemer split the "regular" republican vote.
Everybody knew Duke didn't have a chance against EWE.
Everybody knew Duke didn't have a chance against EWE.
Posted on 2/9/19 at 9:27 pm to inkorrect
All the black kids in elementary were scared and saying they were gonna move to Texas.
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