NEW ORLEANS -- Once considered one of the front runners in the race for New Orleans mayor, state Sen. Ed Murray on Sunday said concerns about the cost of the campaign, both in terms of money and race, drove his decision to end his run for mayor.
In a statement, Murray said recent polling data had indicated he and Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu would have likely ended up in an expensive and potentially divisive runoff.
"This would be an expensive contest and the cost of getting elected would require that I go into substantial personal financial debt," Murray said. "A heated run-off election between Mitch and me would probably become extremely racially divisive, whether either of us intended it or not. I am not prepared to get elected at any cost."
Murray's announcement comes just as the mayoral campaigns are preparing to go into full swing, with early voting for the primary election starting in less than a month.
"Voters are just beginning to pay some attention to this election," said political analyst Dr. Silas Lee. "So, in the next few weeks, it will be extremely competitive, in terms of a ground 'get-out-the vote' effort, name recognition and resources dedicated to the media. It's going to be interesting what shifts, if any, and who benefits from the exit of Ed Murray."
Murray is the second major candidate to drop out of the race. Former school board member Leslie Jacobs dropped out of the race last month. Eyewitness News political analyst Clancy DuBos said Murray's departure from the race gives an advantage to Lt. Gov. Landrieu's campaign.
"Nobody saw this one coming. It's a total shock. It's the biggest shock in a race that has seen more than its fair share of surprises," DuBos said. "Number one -- Murray was the leading African American candidate and, secondly, many people in the political community saw him as the candidate with the best chance to defeat Mitch Landrieu, if he can be defeated at this point. So, with Murray's departure, you really have Mitch Landrieu all alone out front and everyone else way behind."
In his statement, Murray said he planned to reach out and speak to each of the remaining candidates for mayor. At this point, though, he said he is not endorsing anyone in the race.
