Ringside Politics With A Punch

This fall, First District U.S. Congressman Steve Scalise (R-Metairie) will be challenged by Democrat Jim Harlan, a Lacombe businessman. Harlan was in the oil and gas business prior to Katrina and recently switched to the Democratic Party. He already has $554,378 in his campaign war chest. Although most of these funds are his own, it is still a very significant sum for a challenger. Scalise is still the strong favorite because this district is historically very conservative and leans strongly Republican. Yet, Harlan will have the funds to wage a major race against Scalise, who won the seat in a special election in the spring, filling the unexpired term of Bobby Jindal.