NEW ORLEANS – Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu has reneged on his decision to not run for the city's highest office, according to Eyewitness News political analyst Clancy DuBos, filling the void of big-name candidates in the New Orleans mayoral race.
DuBos said on Gambit’s Twitter page that Landrieu would formally make the announcement of his candidacy Tuesday at Cafe Reconcile, ending speculation following an Eyewitness News report that said a poll had been commissioned last month on his behalf. DuBos said Landrieu has already informed Gov. Bobby Jindal of his decision.
Landrieu said in July he would not be a candidate for mayor, but since then other high-profile candidates declined to run, such as City Council President Arnie Fielkow and Rep. Karen Carter Peterson. That may have forced Landrieu to reconsider his decision to not run.
"This is a major development of course, but it's really just the beginning," DuBos said. "Now, the next step is to see who does actually qualify, particularly among the white candidates. A Landrieu candidacy really overshadows all the other white candidates. That doesn't mean they'll all get out, but it makes it much more difficult."
In 2006 as Mayor Ray Nagin sought a second term, Landrieu put up the stiffest opposition to the incumbent while coming out of the primary with nearly 30 percent of the vote. He ended up losing to Nagin by less than 5,000 votes.
In his third attempt for mayor, Landrieu may have to form a new plan to become the city's leader, DuBos said.
"He's doing this time, exactly what he did last time -- waiting until relatively late in the game -- in this case, the last minute before announcing that he's running," DuBos said. "He has to really establish himself as a candidate who can make decisions, and can make them sooner than he made this one, and not look like -- as Rob Couhig said four years ago -- Hamlet, incapable of making a decision."
Eyewitness News spoke with a source close to Landrieu, who did not confirm or deny the information, but said Landrieu will be making an announcement Tuesday.
Rob Couhig, a Republican who announced his candidacy last week, is the only other mayoral candidate to have participated in the 2006 mayoral election.
State Sen. Ed Murray, businessmen John Georges and Troy Henry, Judge Nadine Ramsey, education-reform advocate Leslie Jacobs, housing advocate James Perry also have announced their candidacy. Each is a democrat.
Qualifying begins Wednesday and closes Friday.
