Student party organizations and campaign volunteers descended onto Free Speech Plaza on Wednesday, transforming the University’s Student Involvement Fair into a political battleground for Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District.
Though candidates Paul Dietzel, Garret Graves and Rufus Craig all had student supporters to wrangle younger votes, Edwin Edwards was the only competitor in attendance.
On the way to his spot at the College Democrats table, the former governor and convicted felon was given a fan by workers from the Students for Dietzel booth.
“They’re very friendly people,” Edwards said of the group supporting Paul Dietzel, a 28-year-old Republican and University alumnus.
Edwards said he came to campus to revisit his alma mater and meet potential campaign workers.
“It’s good for a candidate to enlist the support of young people,” Edwards said. “I’m always happy to see people involved, even if they don’t want to be involved with me.”
Edwards, expected to make it to the race’s runoff election, said he had narrowed the field of his nine Republican rivals to three names most likely to make it to the final round.
Though Edwards would not reveal the names, Dietzel campaign manager and former Student Government President J Hudson said his candidate was at the top of that list.
Hudson said Students for Dietzel had already amassed more than 100 volunteers from the University and argued Dietzel had one of the greatest levels of student involvement in the country for a House of Representatives campaign.
Edwards said he was surprised none of his fellow candidates chose to make an appearance at the fair.
“I don’t give those other candidates advice,” Edwards said. “But if I were them, I’d be here.”
Students for Dietzel President Kyle Hebert defended Dietzel’s absence and said it was his organization’s job to gather student support.
“Paul’s more focused on getting votes in other areas and fundraising,” Hebert said.
Hudson reaffirmed Dietzel’s dedication to the University’s campus.
“Paul has been very involved in this campus since he started running,” Hudson said.
The College Libertarians booth, situated across from the Dietzel table, sought to provide an alternative to the “two-party-system” contenders by educating students on Libertarian congressional candidate Rufus Craig and Libertarian Senate candidate Brannon McMorris.
“We’re trying to gain momentum,” said College Libertarians President Cerys McCarthy.
McCarthy, a bioengineering sophomore, said she hoped a libertarian victory in the House or Senate could help to end government intrusions on various social issues.