The Mayor’s Race

I’m taking a break from remodelling our kitchen and wondering about New Orleans’ mayoral election. Today was the most dramatic day in the city’s history since the levees broke.

The African American incumbent Ray Nagin is in a runoff against caucasian politically connected Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu in a race that has divided the city along racial lines. They agree on most issues, including rebuilding the city.

Just casting a vote today has been a challenge for both the locals and the ex-patriots. Registered citizens could vote by absentee ballot, or by traveling to satellite voting stations set up throughout Louisiana. Many people, including me, thought that voting centers should have been set up in Houston and other cities with a large number of ex-patriots. Despite the challenge, turnout seems to be strong today, and the weather is perfect. Polls close at 8 pm Central Time.

Here’s some of the coverage I’ve found.

• The Bayou Buzz has an audio file of a Nagin rally last night at a black church on St. Charles Avenue where a speaker invites voters to go out in “Christ’s righteous name.”</li
• The Detroit Free Press has a good story on the election.
• NOLA.com has live election coverage and a great map of where the displaced voters are.
• ABC News is saying the election is too close to call and has an odd photo of Nagin and Landriew smilling and passing each other
• The Times Picaune tells us that voters could fax in early ballots aqnd explains what “Super Pricinct” voting means.
• WVLT tells us that the U.S. Department of Justice is monitoring the elections.
• CNN has finally called the election for Nagin after midnight. Congratulations to him and good luck — he’s got the toughest job in America.