Cleo Fields, Key Black Figure in La., Backs Landrieu

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D.-La., hindered in her quest for a strong African American turnout on election day by prominent defections among some black Democratic leaders, has been endorsed in the runoff by state Sen. Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge.

The long-awaited announcement came at a news conference Nov. 19 at Fields’ law firm in Baton Rouge.

The Nov. 5 election placed Landrieu in a Dec. 7 runoff with Louisiana Commissioner of Elections Suzanne Haik Terrell, a Republican from New Orleans. After the election, Fields was one of many black lawmakers who spoke of Landrieu’s lack of support for the black community.

"My concerns have never been because Mary Landrieu didn’t support me in my bid for governor," said Fields. "I’m beyond that and I’m bigger than that, but I do think as Democrats we have to have a basic agenda and we have to be proud of that agenda and have to move forward."

Fields said that prayers and a series of meetings with state Democratic Party Chairman Ben Jeffers and other national and local party leaders persuaded him to back Landrieu.

"I have decided that it is important that Democrats close ranks and support the party nominee," he said.

"Our campaign is picking up momentum every day and Senator Fields’ active involvement will benefit our efforts greatly," Landrieu replied in a statement.

The endorsement from one of the most influential black politicians in Louisiana could be the determining factor in rallying blacks to vote on Dec. 7.

"I have always been of the opinion that African American voters in the Democratic Party, many times are taken for granted," said Fields.

Fields also told reporters at the press conference that he’s become tired of Democratic candidates talking about how close they are to President Bush. He said he believes Landrieu’s campaign is now on the right track and is enthusiastically behind her re-election.

"Democratic candidates can not blame African American voters for not being excited when they (Democratic candidates), vote like, sound like, and even campaign like Republicans," Fields said.

Many speculated that Fields didn’t endorse Landrieu in the primary because she did not support Fields when he ran unsuccessfully against Mike Foster for governor in 1995.

Fields even met with Foster in September to urge him to run for the U.S. Senate seat against Landrieu.

Landrieu’s opponent, Terrell, has also had trouble picking up endorsements from Republicans.

After finishing third in the primary with 14 percent of the vote, three-term U.S. Rep. John Cooksey refused to endorse Terrell because of an alleged "smear campaign" against him during the final days leading up to the primary.

Foster even refused to endorse her in the early days of her runoff campaign. His announcement came last weekend and he appeared with her at a campaign fund-raiser with Vice President Dick Cheney.

Gabrielle Maple is a student at Southern Digest who writes for the Southern Digest.