Pollsters call to check Ritchie's standing

Harold Ritchie
D-Franklinton

Telephone pollsters were busy calling households in Louisiana House District 75 Wednesday night, and by the wording of the questions, they were checking to see whether voters were happy or not with State Rep. Harold Ritchie (D-Franklinton). In addition, there were a couple of questions regarding State Sen. Ben Nevers (D-Bogalusa).


Pollsters identified themselves as calling with a political poll and asked permission to conduct the 15-question call.


Among the questions (not worded verbatim):
   • Do you plan to vote in the upcoming election?
   • Do you have a very favorable, favorable, unfavorable or very unfavorable opinion of Bobby Jindal, Harold Ritchie, Ben Nevers, Barack Obama.
   • There is a proposal to sell state prisons to private contractors. would you be in favor or not? This question also posed several scenarios, both positive and negative, regarding privatization of prisons before the response was solicited.
   • There is a proposal to sell the Office of State Benefits to a Wall Street firm. Are you in favor or not? In this instance, there were no positive scenarios presented, only the problems associated with Wall Street and its bail-out.
   • Harold Ritchie voted for a 70 cents per pack tax increase on cigarettes, would that make you more or less likely to vote for him?
   • Harold Ritchie worked to gain (number was given) millions in tax credits for Louisiana families. Would that make you more or less likely to vote for him?
  • If the election were held today, would you vote for Harold Ritchie or consider someone else? The options were very likely, somewhat likely or not likely.
  • If the election were held today, would you vote for Ben Nevers or consider someone else? The options were very likely, somewhat likely or not likely.


Respondents were also asked to identify themselves as Democrat, Republican or other.


While there is no election this year involving Ritchie, he has come under intense scrutiny for his vote on HB 1, which includes wording that would result in the closing of five state prisons, including Rayburn Correctional Center in Angie.


Ritchie said he did not know the bill might force Rayburn's closing and the elimination of 350 jobs.

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)

(This is a reader news tip story)