Challenging The Ragin' Nagin

Ash Wednesday marked the first day of qualifying (qualifying is a strong word, all you need is 750 bucks and a pen) for the New Orleans' mayoral election. Fifteen people say they will challenge incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin, who says he will seek another four years of Chocolate City leadership:

"It's official: I am in, to dispel any other urban myths," Nagin said after signing up.

About a dozen candidates have said they'll run against Nagin, who was popular before Hurricane Katrina inflicted enormous destruction on the city Aug. 29.

The challengers include Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu and Audubon Institute chief executive Ron Forman. Both were one-time allies of Nagin, who has struggled with overwhelmed and underfunded infrastructure and high-profile gaffes.

"Ray's a good man, and Mitch is a good man. They're both my friends," said Forman, whose wife was Nagin's press secretary until Forman decided to enter the race. "But it's about who has the best chance of rebuilding the city."

Landrieu, the son of former New Orleans Mayor Moon Landrieu and the brother of U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, said he decided to enter the race because he felt he could best serve the community by working at City Hall rather than at the state level.

One candidate must receive a majority of the votes in the April 22 election. If not, the top two candidates will meet in a runoff on May 20. With this many candidates, including several high profile names like Nagin, Forman and the younger Landrieu, a runoff is an almost certainty.

My early bet is we'll see Forman and Landrieu battling it out May 20. But Nagin has surprised observers before.

On a related note, Hot & Fresh (almost) Daily! favorite Michelle Malkin points out this satirical Mardi Gras T-shirt:



Now that's funny!

P.S. Have another glass of punch, he still ain't makin' sense.