Louisiana Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco of Lafayette (left) greets Roxy Wright after a news conference Tuesday in New Orleans during which Blanco, a Democratic candidate for governor, received the backing of the New Orleans-based group of 350 ministers called the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

The Associated Press

Jindal courts black vote in New Orleans

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal of Baton Rouge continued his push to pick up black votes Tuesday by opening a campaign office in eastern New Orleans, an area often ignored or mainly overlooked by GOP candidates.

Typically, an overwhelming majority of the state's black voters tend to choose Democrats. But Jindal seems to be picking up more black support, even getting the backing of a few New Orleans-area black political and ministerial groups.

About 100 people attended the Jindal event Tuesday inside a mall in the heavily black neighborhood.

"We have said all along that we're going to fight for every vote," Jindal said.

Blanco gains support of ministerial alliance

Kathleen Blanco of Lafayette, the Democratic lieutenant governor seeking the governorship in the Nov. 15 runoff, received the backing Tuesday of a New Orleans-based group of 350 ministers called the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.

Candidates open to settling with oyster farmers

Both candidates for Louisiana governor say they will continue fighting $2 billion in legal judgments against the state for damage to oyster leases in St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes by a freshwater diversion project. But both indicated they are open to reaching a "fair settlement."

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeal recently upheld a $1.3 billion award, which both candidates described as exorbitant.

In the cases, oyster farmers sued the state because the Caernarvon Freshwater Diversion Project ruined their leases, in some cases winning a jury award worth as much as $21,000 per acre.

Democrat Kathleen Blanco of Lafayette and Republican Bobby Jindal of Baton Rouge each said that, if elected, she/he would appeal the appellate court's decision to the state Supreme Court. They both said they would be open to reaching a settlement with the farmers, something Gov. Mike Foster has indicated he is unwilling to discuss.

"I think a fair settlement should be negotiated," Blanco said.

Jindal said, "If there is a way to settle it for a much smaller sum, I would be open to that."

Landrieu would have a high profile in Blanco administration

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Blanco of Lafayette said she would give Lt. Gov.-elect Mitch Landrieu a high political profile in her administration if she is elected in the Nov. 15 runoff.

She praised Landrieu, a Democratic state representative from New Orleans who supports her campaign, for an "energetic, professional" manner that would contribute to "a great partnership" with her as governor.

Landrieu took more than 50 percent of the vote in the Oct. 4 primary and will be sworn in as lieutenant governor in January.

Blanco, the state's current lieutenant governor, said she had spoken with Landrieu and would carve out a role for him during her term that would be more substantial than any lieutenant governor has enjoyed in recent memory.

In addition to supporting his efforts to promote culture and tourism, which is one of the few areas of real responsibility overseen by the lieutenant governor's office, Landrieu would be called upon to help lead Blanco's efforts for juvenile justice overhaul, coastal restoration and economic development.

"I would be delighted to have a lieutenant governor who ... can take my place when I need him to," Blanco said.