While most of the top tier candidates in the U.S. Senate race are hoping super PACs come to their rescue, if needed, during the current election cycle, the leading Democratic contenders are also wondering if the state party will come through with a unified endorsement.
Party leaders say an endorsement from the Democratic State Central Committee seems unlikely any time soon. But that’s not stopping the top three contenders — Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, Denham Springs attorney Caroline Fayard and Acadiana oil executive Joshua Pellerin — from reaching out to DSCC members.
Stephen Handwerk, the party’s executive director, said in an interview recently that he hadn’t seen any movement one way or the other. He added that it’s ultimately up to the members of the DSCC.
The push for an endorsement has high-profile players in different corners, with Gov. John Bel Edwards supporting Campbell and Fayard’s family leveraging a lifetime of financial support for Democrats. It’s unknown who might be able to broker such an endorsement with these personalities involved.
The party, though, may want the DSCC to steer clear of a vote. Coordinated campaigns bring in money and it may prefer three candidates with cash to completely locking out two of them.
This is especially true due to the lack of attention from the national level.
“There is certainly a role the state party plays in this,” Handwerk said. “But do the national folks get involved and play a role here? Certainly that is something the chairwoman, myself and the campaigns are making the case for, that Louisiana should be in play this year. So far we’re not seeing any movement.”