Even though the Louisiana Democratic Party has thrown its support behind former Gov. Edwin Edwards' congressional bid, national Democrats are not expected to follow suit.
Even though the Louisiana Democratic Party has thrown its support behind former Gov. Edwin Edwards' 
congressional bid, national Democrats are not expected to follow suit.
The state party offered its endorsement following a vote of its central committee, but the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which helps fund and promote House races around the country, follows a different set of guidelines.
And for now it appears the DCCC is steering clear of the 6th Congressional District, a national party source has told LaPolitics.
While Edwards' campaign has enjoyed wide and far recognition, from New Yorker magazine to CNN, it does not fall into any of the categories that draw the DCCC into a state with money in hand.
"There's a three-tier system in determining which races to back," the source said. "The first, known as Frontline,' focuses on incumbents. Then it's whether the seat could flip from red to blue. Finally, it needs to be an emerging race. It's a steep uphill climb in the 6th, where Mitt Romney won 66 percent in 2012 and John McCain won 68 percent in 2008."
That means Edwards will have to largely run on his own dime, with a small assist from the state party. As of early August, Edwards had raised $255,000, spent $109,000 and had $145,000 remaining in his campaign finance account.
There has been some pushback to the state party for endorsing Edwards, who spent roughly eight years in federal prison for racketeering and other charges.
Times-Picayune columnist and former Democratic operative Bob Mann reacted by changing his party registration to "none."
In a blog post, Mann wrote, "As someone who believes Louisiana needs two strong political parties, so as to function like a representative democracy, (the) endorsement further drove the Louisiana Democratic Party into irrelevance. In announcing the endorsement, the state Democratic Party chair, state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, didn't mention Edwards by name."
Not to be outdone, 6th District candidate Cassie Felder, a Republican attorney from Baton Rouge, protested by 
having yard signs made that ask voters "Don't Vote For The Crook - It's Important!"
It's a play on the slogan - "Vote for the crook. It's important." - from Edwards' 1991 run for governor against Klansman David Duke
"They passed over two other Democrats who qualified for this election, Richard Lieberman and Peter Williams, to support an unrepentant convicted felon," Felder said. "Amazing."