Boasso switches to the Democratic Party: New trend or anomaly?
Today, Walter Boasso decided to run for Governor of Louisiana as a Democrat. This is the first time, in a while, that I can remember a major candidate switching parties from being a Republican to a Democrat. Typically it has been the other way around. Some may feel that this is just an anomaly and that you will be seeing more Democrats switching to Republicans in Louisiana as the Republicans try and flex their muscle.
However, what I see is the potential of the Republican strategy blowing up in their face. I had spoken to several Republicans who thought Walter Boasso was a better choice for Governor. The actions of the Republican party in endorsing Jindal well before qualifications has worked to drive away a candidate who some Republicans wanted to support. And yes, they can still support him if they so desire. However, many people on both sides of the aisle will refuse to vote for someone in the other party because of the way partisan politics has worked recently.
Roger Villere and the rest of the Republican Party leadership have been using these bully tactics for a while now. They want to push all of the other Republicans out of the race and make their chosen candidate the only choice available. They did it in 2004 with Jindal and they are doing it again with Jindal in 2007. Instead of uniting the Republican Party, these tactics may very well backfire and work against them by driving away otherwise “good” candidates who the people may rather over the anointed choice of the party officials.
I believe that if the Republican Party does continue along this course, that more candidates will leave the party and they will take their supporters with them. I’m sure that die hard Boasso supporters are not going to jump ship because he has a “D” behind his name. The majority that elected Senator Vitter was very slim. The margin that Jindal lost his first governors race by was also very slim. The Republican Party cannot afford to lose any of its voters if it hopes to win statewide. Of course, the Republican Party will probably continue on its same course because they view Bobby Jindal as their savior. And by putting all their eggs in one basket and alienating other Republicans, they are likely to fail at their attempts at state dominance. And that is a very good thing!
This may be just an anomaly. However, if it isn’t, the Republican Party is going to have very tough times ahead.