The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 3 of 3)

with a sizable lead over her three Republican challengers -- Rep. John Cooksey , state Rep. Tony Perkins and state Elections Commissioner Suzanne Haik Terrell -- in the November election. But her numbers don't appear good enough at this writing to save her from a December runoff with the leading Republican vote-getter. /p>

As it stands, Landrieu has the backing of 44 percent of those polled. Terrell is the closest, garnering 20 percent of the vote, followed by Cooksey with 15 and Perkins with 6 percent. The potential wild card is a the Rev. Ray Brown, a Democrat who is challenging Landrieu. He garners only three percent of the vote, with 12 percent undecided.

By Louisiana law, Landrieu could avoid a runoff and win the seat outright next Tuesday if she were to garner 50 percent of the vote. "It's doable for sure," says a Louisiana Democratic operative. "With that size of undecided, she could easily sway enough to pull it out."

Democrats aren't concerned about Brown, a New Orleans minister, peeling off many Democratic votes, the party official said.

Republicans hope to push Landrieu into a runoff with a more moderate Republican challenger, hoping that candidate can pull enough rural votes to upset Landrieu. It was thought that Cooksey might have the best shot at knocking her off, but he's been a disappointment as a campaigner. Terrell, a comparatively late arrival, has been a pleasant surprise. She's built much of her success on the financial backing of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee to emerge as the GOP's frontrunner.

Part of the problem bayou Republicans face is that in a state thought to be rather conservative they've been unable to paint Landrieu as an extremist. She generally supports the Bush White House in major Senate votes. Because the Republicans can't make a case for themselves, voters are left with the sense that they could just as easily live with the status quo.

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