Breaux No-Go Leaves La. Democrats in Bind
Former senator John Breaux's decision not to run for governor in November left Louisiana Democrats scrambling for a strong candidate for the seat being vacated by Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D).
Breaux dropped out of the race over the weekend after the state's attorney general made no ruling on the former senator's eligibility to run for office. At issue was whether Breaux, who had registered to vote in Maryland after leaving office in 2004, still met the definition of a "citizen" of Louisiana.
  Former senator John Breaux has decided not to run for Louisiana governor in November. (Brad Puckett - AP) |
On Monday, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu -- one of the most often mentioned Democratic replacements -- said he will run for reelection to his current post, removing himself from consideration.
The no-go decisions leave Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell as the lone serious Democratic candidate running. Other names mentioned include former congressman Chris John, former state attorney general Richard Ieyoub and State Treasurer John Kennedy.
Rep. Bobby Jindal (R), who narrowly lost to Blanco in 2003, is viewed as the race's front-runner, and he has more than $5 million in reserve for the race.
-- Chris Cillizza
Obama Releases Tax Returns
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and his wife, Michelle, earned $991,296 last year, including more than $500,000 in royalties he received for his book sales, according to the couple's tax return, which the Obama campaign released earlier this week. The couple's income actually dropped from 2005, when they made a combined $1.6 million. The campaign said the Obamas' income was higher in 2005 because of a book advance that the senator received and a one-time bonus that Michelle Obama collected as an administrator at the University of Chicago Hospitals.
The couple paid $277,431 in taxes and donated $60,037 to charity, including $13,000 to the Congressional Black Caucus's foundation and $22,500 to Trinity United Church of Christ, a Chicago church that the Obamas attend.
-- Perry Bacon Jr.
