BATON ROUGE (AP) — New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu officially ruled out a run for governor in the October election, saying Monday his focus remains on his home city.
The recent endorsement of the Louisiana Democratic Party for state Rep. John Bel Edwards as its choice to succeed Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal was seen as an indication Landrieu wouldn't run.
On Monday, the Democratic mayor, who scores high in public opinion polls, made it official.
"I have been blessed to become the mayor of what I consider to be the greatest city in America at a time when she has the greatest need and the greatest opportunity to leap forward," Landrieu said. "We have made tremendous progress … but we have a very long way to go. And because of that, I don't intend to be a candidate for governor in this fall's election."
But he told reporters following a lunchtime speech at the Baton Rouge Press Club that if he did run, he could win.
Landrieu said he hasn't decided if he will endorse a gubernatorial candidate.
In addition to Edwards, three Republicans are among the major candidates for the Oct. 24 race: Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and U.S. Sen. David Vitter. Jindal is term-limited.
