Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry's decision to run for reelection rather than challenge Gov. John Bel Edwards in next fall's governor's race means all eyes are on U.S. Sen. John Kennedy and Congressman Ralph Abraham.
Landry's decision was first reported Wednesday by the Associated Press.
"It was a tough, tough decision," he said in an interview with the AP's Melinda Deslatte. "I am very comfortable right now that I can best serve the people of the state as attorney general."
That leaves Kennedy and Abraham as the highest profile Republicans remaining who might challenge Edwards, the only Democratic governor in the Deep South.
Republican businessman Eddie Rispone, who pledged to spend up to $5 million of his on money in the campaign, has already thrown his hat into the ring.
Kennedy has given himself a Dec. 1 deadline to make an announcement about his decision. He wouldn't have to give up his Senate seat to run against Edwards.
He blistered Edwards' Secretary of Health Rebekah Gee Wednesday, calling for her resignation following a state audit showing Louisiana may have misspent up to $85 million on ineligible Medicaid recipients.
"This has nothing to do with me running for governor," Kennedy said. "This is about taxpayer dollars. I'm appalled at the report."
But he said during the same conference call his decision about the governor's race will be forthcoming.
Abraham also lashed out at Edwards following the Medicaid audit.
"This report is another sign that Gov. Edwards has no interest in actually making the Medicaid program work properly," the congressman said in a post on his campaign Facebook account.
Abraham told USA Today Network his decision will come "before the first of the year." The congressman from Alto could also keep his seat in the House while running for governor.
"We're still looking at it," he said of the governor's race.
During his successful campaign for reelection to Congress this fall, Abraham ran a one-minute biographical TV ad beyond the borders of his 5th District population centers of Alexandria and Monroe. His commercial also ran in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Lafayette.
Abraham said his decision won't be based on what Kennedy decides to do.
"Whoever else runs won't figure into my equation," he said.
But Louisiana's premier political insider Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com says Abraham and Kennedy are absolutely watching each other.
"Everyone says they're not waiting on anyone else but everyone in the developing field wants to know what everybody else is doing," Alford said. "It matters."
Alford did say it will be harder for any second-tier candidates to make a splash as the days continue to tick down.
"With each passing day it becomes more difficult for someone outside of Kennedy and Abraham," he said. "But Louisiana politics is like Jell-O — there's always room."
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1
