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LAFAYETTE, La. – With victories in Alabama and Mississippi on Tuesday, Rick Santorum was already looking ahead to Louisiana’s presidential primary in 10 days, gathering here with supporters to press for another win in the Deep South.
With Mardi Gras over, Louisiana is suddenly — and surprisingly — about to be back in the national spotlight.
Santorum, greeted by a crowd of more than 200 people in a hotel ballroom here, gave thanks to the voters and then turned to the topic that will be critical in Louisiana: energy.
“This president almost put this whole region out of business,” he said, referring to the oil drilling moratorium in the wake of the 2010 BP oil spill. “We wanted to be here in Lafayette to say to average folks who are struggling right now: we will put this town and this region back to work.”
This time of year, this city in the heart of Cajun country is usually focused on where the best boiled crawfish is being served or who’s holding the weekend’s Zydeco stomp. The area is now abuzz with politics.
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, who promised to continue his campaign despite failing to score a victory Tuesday, will visit Baton Rouge and possibly New Orleans this week.
He has made oil production a centerpiece of his campaign, pledging to return gas prices to $2.50 a gallon.
Mitt Romney will hold a fundraiser in Shreveport next week in the run-up to Louisiana’s Republican primary on March 24, said Roger Villere, chairman of the Louisiana GOP.
Following Mississippi’s and Alabama’s primaries Tuesday, Louisiana is the next Southern “red state” with delegates to grab.
“Everybody needs every delegate they can get,” said Villere, who has been helping to coordinate the events. “This will be a good place for someone to break ahead or for someone to make a stand.”
The candidates’ descent into Louisiana surprised many residents, who are used to being overlooked during primary season.
“Most of the candidates I want to vote for don’t make it down here,” said Candy Bienvenu, 57, a retiree. “They need to come down and know what’s important to people here.”
Candidates better be genuine, she said. Romney’s faux Southern drawl and professed love of grits at a rally in Mississippi won’t work in Louisiana, she said: “It better be genuine, because we could tell if it’s not. They just can’t come in here for a vote.”
Talk of the candidates coming to Louisiana spread quickly across the University of Louisiana-Lafayette campus. In her communications class, Jana Rousset, 22, discussed the tight Republican primaries race with other students and her teacher, she said.
“Louisiana is a smaller state; people tend to look it over,” said Rousset, who usually votes Republican. “It’s a good thing they’re coming here. It’s a big deal.”
At Santorum’s rally, Grant Gil, 40, of nearby New Iberia, said he lost his home-building business in the recession, switching to work as an oil field inspector.
He asked for the day off Tuesday to attend the rally with his wife, Rhiannon, and 1-year-old daughter, Alana.
“It’s exciting,” Gil said. “People get to meet their candidate, and it’s good for the candidate as well. Now we matter.”
The pro-Santorum Red, White and Blue Fund announced Tuesday it will spend $260,000 in media ads in Louisiana comparing Santorum’s energy plan against Obama’s policy.
GOP rivals look to Louisiana as next ‘red state’ to woo
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