First published 2016
Louisiana's 2015 gubernatorial race pitted a small-town state representative against a U.S. senator whose career had been tainted by prostitution scandals. John Bel Edwards faced seemingly impossible odds against David Vitter, the presumed favorite. The underdog campaign assembled an unlikely coalition of private investigators, a rogue sheriff, trial lawyers, and a purple party bus. Their strategy centered on brutal attack ads that contrasted "prostitutes over patriots." Veteran Louisiana political reporters Tyler Bridges and Jeremy Alford chronicle this improbable victory through interviews with over 100 campaign insiders, deal makers, and operatives who played all sides. Political analyst Clancy DuBos edited the work, bringing deep knowledge of Bayou State politics. The book reveals the inner workings of both campaigns as they navigated Louisiana's unique political landscape of back roads, bayous, and backroom dealings. This detailed account offers lessons for candidates and voters nationwide about modern campaign warfare.
Genres: political-science, biography-memoir, 21st-century, political-thriller, american-history
Vibes: detailed, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-allies, underdog-victory, unlikely-coalition
Setting: Louisiana
Period: 2015
375 pages · Hardcover · The Lisburn Press