Sen. Landrieu Rallies at Southern U. Before Vote

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., running for re-election, visited Southern University to tout her achievements for historically black colleges and universities a day before the Nov. 5 election placed her in a Dec. 7 runoff with Louisiana Commissioner of Elections Suzanne Haik Terrell, a Republican from New Orleans.

"Ninety percent of the students that attend SU are on financial aid, and we are working on a bill so students can consolidate their student loans," Landrieu told a get-out-the-vote rally.

A member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Landrieu said she had secured money for HBCUs in Louisiana, and acquired $92 million for the poorest schools in the state.

"I will work to make sure students get through school with the minimum amount of loans and the maximum amount of education," she said.

"We have been able to bring millions of dollars to programs on campus and we will make sure more federal dollars will be put into this uiversity," Landrieu said.

Landrieu has contributed $425,000 to the School of Nursing and supported other programs on the Southern University campus.

University President Leon Tarver, Chancellor Edward Jackson and Student Government Association President Steven Sumbler welcomed Landrieu and Sen. John Breaux, D-La., to the school.

"This is the first time in history that we have had two U.S. senators on this campus," said Tarver.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that Landrieu had been hindered in her quest for a strong African American turnout by some prominent defections among black Democratic leaders in the state, including state Sens. Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge, Greg Tarver of Shreveport and Donald Cravins of Lafayette.

With all precincts reporting, Landrieu led the pack of nine contenders with 572,681 votes, or 46 percent, and Terrell got 339,045 votes, or 27 percent.

In the Louisiana primary, all candidates regardless of party run at the same time and a candidate must get a simple majority to win. Voter turnout was about 44.5 percent.

Opal Mabry and Philip Pratt are students at Southern University and writers for The Southern Digest. Digest Editor in Chief Gabrielle Maple contributed to this story.