A helping hand

Republican Jerry Jones and Democrat Cedric Glover are getting help from their respective parties today.

Both state parties have workers going door-to-door, waving signs and calling voters they have identified as likely to vote for their candidate.

So why all of the out-of-town attention on a local election?

“It’s an important race,” state Democratic party executive director Danny Ford said. “Shreveport is now the second-largest city in the state of Louisiana. It’s important to us to see a Democrat in office who can help the city and state as well.”

James Quinn, executive director of the Republican Party of Louisiana, acknowledges the efforts the Democrats have put on rallying Glover’s supporters.

“It’s going to be close,” Quinn said.

And while the national midterm elections have garnered a lot of attention, a lack of “serious” challengers to the area’s Republican congressman, U.S. Rep. Jim McCrery, won’t help boost Republican turnout, Quinn said.

“People who show up to vote, they’re showing up to vote for the mayor of Shreveport,” he said.