The Louisiana Democratic Party has launched a tour to rally support for its cause. For two weeks, Chairman Buddy Leach will go from town to town to rally support for his party.
Of course, many throughout the state are probably looking at the tour and asking, “Buddy, where was this tour last year?” It’s a fitting question. Last year’s state elections saw the Republicans further cement themselves as the only legitimate party in Louisiana. The Democrats couldn’t muster a single high-profile candidate to run against Gov. Bobby Jindal. Actually, they had trouble finding  someone to run for any statewide office.
Leach claims the Democrats did speak to many constituents last year, but the decision was made by party leaders to spend time and money on the legislative races. And therein lies the root of the
problem with the Louisiana Democratic Party: no leadership.
It’s unimaginable a once-proud party would simply concede the governor’s mansion to the Republicans. Not only was that choice a failure of party policy, it was a failure to voters around the state praying the Democrats would find someone to point out the many flaws Jindal had.
So how did the tactic to focus on the legislature fair? Leach proudly boasts all incumbent Democrats kept their seats.
Congratulations, Buddy. That means the Senate is still 62 percent Republican. That means the House of Representatives is still 55 percent Republican. That means you still have a Republican governor who can sign into law anything the Republican legislature passes.
Leach points out during the tour that all of the major cities in Louisiana have Democratic mayors. In his mind, the party base just needs to get to the polls during state elections. That’s a fair argument, if you discount the fact that past the mayors’ offices, the Louisiana people are rallying behind Republicans. All statewide offices are Republican, except for U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu. All congressmen, except for the New Orleans congressman, Cedric Richmond, are Republican. The message needs to change, and the Democratic Party needs to change if it hopes to survive.
Unfortunately for Democrats around the state looking to be a factor again, it doesn’t look like your party is going to adjust its message any. Leach said during his stop in Monroe, “The Democratic Party is still the party of helping those who cannot help themselves.” That is likely not a popular message to be spreading in a state as red as Louisiana. And it may not be such a good idea to be praising Pres. Obama in the way Leach and the Democrats in Louisiana are doing.
Consider less than 40 percent of the vote in 2008. A Clarus Research poll conducted in October found his numbers to be even lower this election. The Democrats need to get with it. Otherwise,  elections between Republican A and Republican B will persist year after year. This will create nothing but stagnation in the state. Voters need a choice. Since we live in a two-party nation, the  Democrats have to step up their game and give the voters that choice. And they need to start conducting their statewide tours in years that matter.