http://www.katc.com/global/story.asp?s=6376754 BATON ROUGE, La. -- Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu said Monday he will not run for governor, the latest Democrat to decide not to campaign against the front-runner, Republican U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal.
Landrieu said he considered a gubernatorial run but will instead seek re-election.
"I believe I can best serve the people of Louisiana by finishing the job I started four years ago," Landrieu said in a written statement.
Landrieu's announcement came three days after U.S. Sen. John Breaux, a Democrat, said he will not run for governor. Earlier, Gov. Kathleen Blanco, also a Democrat, said she would not seek re-election.
Jindal enjoys a wide lead in early polls, and Landrieu's decision has left Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell as the only experienced Democrat in the race. Qualifying opens Sept. 4. The primary election is Oct. 20.
In addition to Jindal and Campbell, Republican state Sen. Walter Boasso, businessman John Georges, also a Republican, and Libertarian candidate T. Lee Horne have announced plans to run.
Political analyst Silas Lee said Democrats are running out of time if they hope to find another candidate who's familiar to voters statewide. Anyone who jumps in the race now could struggle to raise money and attract campaign workers before the traditional start of campaigning after Labor Day, Lee said.
"The Democrats do not have the luxury of time right now," Lee said.
Landrieu ran an unsuccessful campaign for mayor of New Orleans last year, losing in a runoff to incumbent Ray Nagin. His sister, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-New Orleans, is up for re-election in 2008.
Others Democrats who have said they might run for governor are former U.S. Rep. Chris John of Crowley and Richard Ieyoub, former state attorney general. John ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2005; Ieyoub ran for governor in 2003, failing to make the runoff.
Blanco beat Jindal in the 2003 runoff. She announced last month that she would not seek a second term.
Jindal has raised over $5 million for the race, according to his campaign. Georges also has said he has over $5 million.
Campbell said he has raised over $1 million. Campbell has been touring the state and released new radio advertisements on Monday.
Alan Stonecipher, his campaign manager, said the Democrat plans to spend a lot of time campaigning in south Louisiana, where his name is unfamiliar to voters.
"We feel good being where we are," Stonecipher said. "I think the field is shaping up for us to be in a really good position to provide an alternative to Jindal."
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