President Donald Trump is returning to Louisiana to heighten his support for Republican businessman Eddie Rispone in the Louisiana governor's race.
Trump is planning an evening rally Wednesday in Monroe, in the middle of the weeklong early voting period for the Nov. 16 election.
Monroe is in the 5th Congressional district, which is represented by Congressman Ralph Abraham. Abraham will be in attendance.
Trump last visited Louisiana October 11th in Lake Charles, the Friday night before primary voting began. ULM Poli Sci Professor Joshua Stockley says the president is heading to another of the state’s reddest locales.
“President Trump has the ability to remind voters to turn out and vote, and perhaps motivate a few more Republicans to support Eddie Rispone,” says Stockley.
Recent independent polls show Edwards closing in on 50 percent. Stockley says if Rispone wants to win, he needs to sure up disillusioned Ralph Abraham voters. A Presidential rally could do just that.
“These disappointed Republicans are not going to vote for Governor Edwards, but they do run the risk of staying home,” says Stockley. “Eddie Rispone cannot beat Governor Edwards if Representative Abraham’s voters do not show up.”
Stockley does not expect attendance to be as high as the President’s previous rally in Lake Charles due to the difference in population levels, but it won’t be a small affair.
“You are in a very conservative part of the state, so I think that there will still be a very healthy turnout,” says Stockley.
The Commander in Chief holds an approval rating in the low 50s statewide according to recent polls.
In addition, the Republican president released an endorsement video on Thursday. In it, he urges Louisiana voters to cast their ballots for Rispone and oust incumbent John Bel Edwards, the Deep South's only Democratic governor.
Edwards also has been targeting Abraham's voters, hoping to win their support by reminding them of Rispone's attacks on Abraham.