New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, who had kept speculation going that he would run for governor of Louisiana, did not file as a candidate by yesterday's deadline. However, Nagin did say that he intends to keep active and will try to affect the terms of the debate in the election. "I will expect any candidate who wants to be taken seriously to commit to the full recovery of New Orleans, this region and ultimately this state," he said.

The current frontrunner is Republican Congressman and 2003 gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal, who has enjoyed poll numbers over the 50% mark needed to avoid a runoff under the state's multi-candidate "jungle primary" system.