In the wake of his disappointing finish in the October 24 primary election, largely attributable to some of the most vicious attack ads by second place finisher David Vitter, Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne announced that he would not endorse either of the candidates in the Nov. 21 general election.
That appears to have changed now.
Democratic State Rep. John Bel Edwards, who led the field in the primary election with 40 percent of the votes cast, has scheduled a special press conference for 9 a.m. Thursday (Nov. 5) at Free Speech Alley in front of the student union on the LSU campus.
Both the Baton Rouge Advocate and nola.com have posted online stories saying that Dardenne will be announcing his endorsement of Edwards at the press conference.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/11/jay_dardenne_edwards_endorseme.html
http://theadvocate.com/home/13888680-125/sources-jay-dardenne-ready-to
That would be a major coup for Edwards. In addition to the 444,517 votes cast for Edwards, Dardenne, who finished fourth in the primary election, received 166,656 votes. Between the two, that accounts for 611,173, or 54.8 percent of the 1,114,336 votes cast.
Vitter has captured the consolation prize of former Gov. Mike Foster’s endorsement.
But perhaps voters should remember that Foster is the one guilty of foisting Bobby Jindal upon the unwitting Louisiana populace. Based on that unenviable legacy, his endorsement could prove counterproductive to Vitter.
Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle placed third with 214,982 votes. So far, he has not endorsed either candidate for the runoff election but he was also the subject of the same attack ads as Dardenne.
Vitter is not making any new friends with his new wave of misleading attack ads, this time aimed at Edwards. Filled with distortions and outright lies about Edwards’s voting record as a legislator, the early ads have already backfired.
After a spate of ads claiming that Edwards planned to release 5,500 hardened criminals from prison, the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association promptly endorsed Edwards. (Edwards actually called for prison reform that would offer rehabilitation to non-violent offenders, thus reducing the prison population for a state that has the highest incarceration rate in the world—higher even than Russia, Iraq, Iran, and every other country on earth.)
Dardenne, for his part, said his position on offering his endorsement “evolved over time,” according to nola.com. He and Edwards have kept the lines of communication open since the primary election and Edwards has repeatedly, even during the campaign leading up to the Oct. 24 primary, referred to Dardenne and Angelle as honorable men and “dedicated public servants.”
As for Vitter, when the state’s senior U.S. Senator said during one of his rare debate appearances that Edwards had voted for President Obama, Edwards replied, “Yes, I did vote for Obama but I never voted for David Vitter.”
Dardenne’s endorsement is significant in two ways:
It is extremely rare for a Republican to endorse a Democrat, or vice-versa, and
It sends an unmistakable message to his supporters that his brand of dirty politics is beyond the pale, even for Louisiana.
And while the Republicans in the Louisiana House have voted to endorse Vitter—no surprise there considering the gutless servitude to Jindal during his eight pitiful years in office—the Senate Republicans in so many words told its House counterparts to take a walk.
Vitter must be feeling the early symptoms of panic.
Louisiana Voice 
Not consolidation prize.
You are correct. My error. It was supposed to be consolation prize and thanks to your sharp eye, it has been corrected. Thanks.
Your turn now Angelle . . . .
I applaud Jay Dardenne for choosing to endorse the person he feels is the best choice for Louisiana. Jay has served this state honorably and effectively for many years. Hopefully his endorsement will provide the icing on the cake November 21. David Vitter’s vile and disgusting behavior during the campaign was undeserved by all of his opponents and it will be poetic justice to see him suffer a resounding defeat. I think he can kiss the Senate goodbye as well since he has given all Louisianians a good look at what he’s really all about. Thank you again Mr. Dardenne.
I think he can kiss the Senate goodbye as well
Now that would be poetic justice wouldn’t it?
Of course he might just decide to retire after his current term (and without his government pension according to wife Wendy). Then he can join the rest of the former congress-critters on K street.
I don’t vote for the party; I vote for the individual candidate and what he represents. The only man I see worth my vote is Edwards! We do not need another Rhodes Scholar like Jindal. We need a man who lives by the West Point code of ethics. It will take someone like him to try to straighten out the mess Jindal is leaving us. Edwards said Vitter would not last a day at West Point. Can you possibly imagine what condition our state would be in if we would elect another Rhodes Scholar as governor?
Despite my many political differences with him as a Republican, I have always had a lot of respect for Jay Dardenne. I am glad to see that my respect for him has not been misplaced.
Jay has always been a class act-this is a win-win, one class act joining another class act thanks Jay ron thompson
Don’t forget John Kennedy endorsed David Vitter saying a vote Edwards would be like voting for all the trial lawyers. I don’t know Tom about this one??
Jay Dardenne is an honorable man as is John Kennedy. Each man has the right to endorse whomever he chooses even though I happen to favor Edwards.
Good move all around. And our laugh for the day is Vitter trotting out the endorsement from the biggest B-list slacker to ever sit in the governor’s mansion, Mike Foster. The only noteworthy thing Foster did that I can recall is actually notorious: unleashing the Jindal monster on the world. At least Dr. Frankenstein was fictional. Unfortunately, Foster’s misdeed was all too true.
Bam take that David Vitter!!!!
I know nobody who supported Jay Dardenne who would vote for David Vitter whether Dardenne endorsed him or not. Dardenne has shown logic, intelligence and courage in making this endorsement. If being a RINO means not moving in lock step with the Republican Party on every single issue, I have to hope there are a lot more out there. Some people can and do think for themselves. They don’t need a party to tell them what to think or how to vote. That is a main reason the fastest growing segment of registered voters is No Party.
Well put Stephen Winham!!
Neh neh Stephen, being a RINO is Roger Villerre and the rest of the state repub leadership. Vitter is not a favorite of the entrenched Washington republican mafia. He is not Jindal’s buddy. He got caught with his pants down several years ago and I believe his dear wife has his manhood mounted on the front door and uses it for a door knocker. But that’s the only thing people gripe about when it comes to Vitter, besides him being mean during a political campaign. How about the fact he has voted the way most of us conservatives in the state have wanted him to vote? Dardenne is in the same “pile” as Jindal and Alario as far as I’m concerned. And when someone tells me how honest he is like Mr. Edwards does in his commercial I tend to not believe them. Edwards is pro gun and pro baby, and that’s about it. Plus voting and supporting Obama twice is just as bad as voting for Jindal twice.
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[…] Source: Major development: Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne has change of heart; will endorse John Bel Edwards at LSU o… […]
Apparently everybody is getting on board: Scott Angelle supporters plan pro-John Bel Edwards fundraiser Friday in Lafayette. See11/5 The Advocate.
I commend Mr. Dardenne for endorsing John Bel Edwards for governor, but could it also include a cabinet appointment for Jay Dardenne when Mr. Edwards becomes governor?
It could statewatcher, but that’s not why Jay endorsed JBE.
True and I can’t think of anybody who would be a better Commissioner of Administration than Jay Dardenne.
He would be great.