Sat Aug 7,10:59 AM ET
By JESSICA BUJOL, Associated Press Writer
NEW ORLEANS - In 48 hours, Rep. Rodney Alexander (news, bio, voting record) went from Democrat to Republican, friend to foe — or foe to friend, depending on your political persuasion.
Democrats reacted to the news by calling the first-term congressman a turncoat and a coward. They must now gain another seat, 12 in all, to win back the House this fall. The count today: Democrats 205, Republicans 229.
A new ally, on the other hand, rang him up Friday to say congratulations. President Bush (news - web sites), according to White House spokesman Scott McClellan, welcomed Alexander to the GOP and wished him well.
Alexander's about-face came about in two days, but had really been in the works for two years.
After announcing his new affiliation Friday afternoon, Alexander said he had been struggling with his conservative votes for his entire term — backing the Bush tax cuts as well as the war in Iraq (news - web sites) — and noted they had brought him criticism from Democrats.
"I just decided it would be best for me to switch parties, that I would be more effective in the 5th District in the state of Louisiana as a Republican," he said.
In March, Alexander found himself under such intense pressure that he had to publicly announce he would remain a Democrat. Yet, he skipped last month's National Convention in Boston.
On Wednesday, Alexander registered at the start of qualifying for the 5th District race as a Democrat. Friday afternoon, the last day of qualifying for the Nov. 2 ballot, he made his switch, leaving Democrats no time to enter a strong candidate in the race.
Alexander acknowledged he had been courted by the Republicans but said the president hadn't asked him personally to make the switch.
Democrats in Washington didn't hide their feelings.
"Rodney Alexander has betrayed voters in Louisiana and leaders like (Senators) John Breaux and Mary Landrieu, who have helped him. We have no use for turncoats like Rodney Alexander in the new Democratic majority," said Kori Bernards, spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Landrieu issued a statement calling Alexander a "coward."
"The most important measure of a leader is his word, and tonight Rodney Alexander proved to the people of his district and Louisiana that his word is meaningless," she said.
How voters will react to Alexander the Republican come Election Day is anyone's guess, says one political observer.
That Alexander made his move so late, effectively eliminating the possibility of having a strong Democratic challenger, may not sit well with voters, says Ed Renwick, a political scientist and pollster at Loyola University in New Orleans.
"In one sense, it was a very shrewd political move," Renwick said. "But it's a dangerous move."
There is already a strong Republican in the three-candidate field. Jock Scott is a former state representative from Alexandria. The Democrat is Zelma "Tisa" Blakes, of Monroe, a political newcomer who called herself a "domestic engineer" when she signed up for the race.
Under Louisiana's open primary system, all candidates run on the same ballot regardless of party. If no one gets more than half the vote on Nov. 2, a runoff will be held in December.
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Cowardly? This is pathetic. A man changes his political affiliation to a party that better matches his beliefs. Is that really being a coward? Expressing your views? Sure, the Dems have a very understandable position to be upset about switching so late, but calling him a coward is just weak.
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