With only four days to go until the Louisiana Republican senate runoff, polls are giving mixed messages about who's leading the race.
Rep. Julia Letlow (R-Start) still leads in some polls, but by smaller margins than the 15-point lead she had in last month's primary. In at least one other poll, state Treasurer John Fleming (R-Minden) overtaking Letlow in the final days of the campaign.
What exactly can we glean from these competing poll results?
"Well, it's hard to say," political analyst Ron Faucheux said.
According to Faucheux, the outlook is hazy because no-party voters could decide the outcome of the Republican runoff. Faucheux adds that the June election date likely will influence who wins the GOP nomination.
"You also have a low turnout race," Faucheux said. "This runoff has had almost no energy at all. It's very difficult when you have a low turnout campaign to really figure out what will happen."
According to Faucheux, a low-turnout election, on paper, should benefit Letlow.
"Generally speaking, when that happens, Donald Trump's candidate does very well or does better in the Republican primary, which would help Julia Letlow."
However, Faucheux notes that Trump's endorsement may not necessarily help Letlow this time around.
"Some of the polls show that John Fleming is doing well," Faucheux said. "He's either tied or in the lead. So it's difficult to predict this one."
Faucheux says Letlot had her chances to seal the nomination, but she failed to do so.
"It's hard for any candidate to assure (himself or herself) a victory," Faucheux said. "I think on Letlow's side, she needs to tie herself as tightly to Donald Trump as she can, but I also think that she has needed in the whole campaign to define herself. Who is she? What has she done? She hasn't done that yet."
