Boasso enters governor’s race; Vitter backs Jindal

Republican state Sen. Walter Boasso entered the campaign for governor on Monday, just as the state’s most powerful Republican threw his support to someone else.

Boasso announced his run in a written statement, saying “the state is a mess and somebody has got to clean it up. I’ve decided I’m the one to do it.”

Hours later, Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter indicated that he disagreesnand wants U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal to get total support from party members. In the letter, distributed by the state Republican Party, Vitter asks his supporters to contribute to the Jindal campaign and support Jindal exclusively.

“By uniting early and supporting Bobby, we can provide his campaign with the momentum he needs to win,” Vitter, R-La., said in the letter.

In an interview, Boasso said he had been aware that party leaders would oppose his campaign and support Jindal, R-Kenner.

“The only thing I can say is, I’m not surprised in the least,” Boasso said. “They’re of the belief that they, solely by themselves, can fix Louisiana’s problems. Personally, I don’t agree with that. They’re going to do everything they can do to discourage me from running.”

A Vitter spokeswoman later said the letter was not released Monday to outshine Boasso’s announcement.

The primary election is Oct. 20, with a runoff scheduled Nov. 17. Gov. Kathleen Blanco has said she is running for re-election.

Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere Jr. said the party does not officially oppose Boasso or support Jindal, but he conceded that most GOP leaders favor Jindal. Villere also said party leaders want to unify GOP support behind one candidate n just as happened with Vitter’s 2004 campaign, in which he overcame two Democrats in the primary to become Louisiana’s first Republican senator since Reconstruction.

Villere said he received Vitter’s letter Monday morning, along with a request from the senator that it be distributed to the news media.

Boasso, 46, is a wealthy businessman and first-term senator representing St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes, among those hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. He is from Arabi in St. Bernard.

Along with Boasso and Jindal, one other candidate have officially entered the race: Libertarian T. Lee Horne III of Franklin.

The full slate of candidates remains unclear. Other possible candidates include Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, a Democrat from north Louisiana; U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, a Democrat from southeastern Louisiana; Jim Bernhard, a former state Democratic Party chairman and chief executive officer of The Shaw Group Inc.; and New Orleans businessman John Georges of Imperial Trading Co., a Republican.

Asked about Boasso’s announcement, Blanco said she was unconcerned. She said Boasso will be “one of many” candidates.

“They’re all welcome,” she said during a public appearance in New Orleans.