As election season builds, one question lingers over local politics: would any candidate actually want the endorsement of Mayor LaToya Cantrell?
Political analyst and pollster Bernie Pinsonat says the answer is simple, and it’s “no.”
Pinsonat points to the mayor’s consistently low approval ratings as a red flag for anyone running for office.
“The point of a campaign is to get as many votes as you can,” he said. “When you look at the numbers, aligning with Mayor Cantrell would be unwise. A campaign stands to lose more than it would gain.”
While Cantrell still maintains a base of loyal supporters, Pinsonat says that support, maybe 10 to 15 percent of voters, doesn’t outweigh the broader disapproval.
“You’re looking at a potential 60 percent loss from her unpopularity. The math is unimaginable for any serious campaign,” he explained.
Instead, Penance says candidates should keep their attention on voters and the issues that matter most, rather than chasing endorsements that could weigh them down.
“At this point,” he added, “the best thing anyone can do is run their campaign on their own terms and stay focused on the people they want to represent.”