LA-Gov. - Blanco to bow out?

UPDATED

A "major announcement" is expected this evening from Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco.

At the very top among the intense speculation is that Governor Blanco will announce that she will not run for re-election in the autumn of 2007.

Numerous sources of insiders are expecting the announcement confirming her decision not to run. Bayoubuzz has contacted the Governor’s Office and has not received a confirmation or a denial.

If she is announcing that she will not run, Blanco is casting herself as a lame duck for the state legislative session that begins on April 30.

However, she might be stepping aside now to clear a path for former U.S. Sen. John Breaux, who is said to be interested in running if Blanco does not.

Blanco's announcement is scheduled for 6 p.m., CDT. We'll update.

UPDATE

The New Orleans Times Picayune reports Blanco scheduled a meeting with her cabinet prior to the announcement.

The cabinet meeting include the heads of all major agencies under the governor’s administration. The governor’s office will not comment on the meeting or the nature of the news conference.

Questions of whether Blanco plans to run for reelection have surfaced in recent days as her administration deals with criticism of the state's Road Home recovery program and the process of getting rebuilding money to people whose homes were damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Blanco also scheduled a telephone conference with her legislative leadership before the announcement.

UPDATE II

Breaux's campaign website, John Breaux for Governor, is up and running, although it is only in e-mail address-gathering mode right now.

UPDATE III

Confirmed?

Gannett's John Hill reports:

Gov. Kathleen Blanco will not run for re-election this fall.

The governor summoned staff and cabinet members to the Governor’s Mansion at 4 p.m. to inform them before making the announcement public on live television tonight.

Blanco’s representatives called television stations seeking airtime for shortly after 6 p.m., a highly unusual request that signals a major development.

The governor also called relatives to come to the Governor’s Mansion this evening.

UPDATE IV

Confirmed.

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, whose popularity plummeted after two hurricanes devastated south Louisiana less than halfway through her first term, announced Tuesday that she won't seek re-election.

The decision will enable her to get what she called important initiatives through an upcoming legislative session without having to worry about political considerations.

"I am doing this so we can work without interference from election year politics," she said.