faces Kathleen Blanco in a runoff this Saturday for Governor of Louisiana. While Louisiana state politics do not affect many of us including myself, I was surprised to see an Indian guy in the election. Finally people from the Indian subcontinent may have one of their own in major political office. He has already received the backing of the Democratic mayor of New Orleans. The mayor's gay panel resigned in protest. Some Pakistani political organization gave Blanco $50k to defeat him. Interesting stuff.
I think you can argue all minority candidates in non minority majority districts are a little whitewash. He was born in the United States and as a Republican at the state level he needs the support of ultra conservatives. I don't know enough about him to say he's a moderate Republican but he does have the support of a Black democratic mayor in a predominantly minority populated city. People trying to make this into an India vs. Pakistan international issue need to stop. He seems like a good guy, much better than Governor Good Hair.
It's interesting because, if he wins, it would be a significant election in the history of southern politics. Louisiana hasn't had a nonwhite governor since Reconstruction. In fact, there has never been a nonwhite governor elected in the Deep South, period. Plus, America has never had an Indian-American governor. For those of us who follow such things, it's shows the mobility of a particular ethnic group in American politics (Indian-Americans) as well as a possible groundbreaking election in the south. In fact, I'd say the fact that he got this far is already noteworthy. (Remember, David Duke was once a credible candidate for governor in LA.) Good article about the race here: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...u=/ap/20031112/ap_on_el_gu/louisiana_governor
