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Holloway hence fell 2,705 votes short of entering the second round of balloting with Alexander. Though he was a longtime Republican who later in life was a member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, Holloway endorsed the then Democrat Alexander ovethe more [[conservative]] Fletcher. Holloway's aberration was a reaction to the hard campaigning waged against him by Fletcher in the primary. Critics claim that Holloway was furious over negative, anonymous automated telephone calls. Not only did Holloway refuse to endorse fellow Republican Fletcher, but numerous Republican groups in the 5th congressional district also backed the then-Democrat Alexander in the general election. The final outcome seemed to indicate that Holloway's endorsement and the support of such Republican activist groups contributed considerably to Alexander's narrow margin of victory.<ref>Undated 2002 article from ''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk.''</ref> In 2004, Congressman Alexander switched to Republican affiliation with widespread support from district Republican leaders. That year, he handily defeated fellow Republican John Wyeth "Jock" Scott of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] in the nonpartisan blanket primary.​

Holloway hence fell 2,705 votes short of entering the second round of balloting with Alexander. Though he was a longtime Republican who later in life was a member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, Holloway endorsed the then Democrat Alexander ovethe more [[conservative]] Fletcher. Holloway's aberration was a reaction to the hard campaigning waged against him by Fletcher in the primary. Critics claim that Holloway was furious over negative, anonymous automated telephone calls. Not only did Holloway refuse to endorse fellow Republican Fletcher, but numerous Republican groups in the 5th congressional district also backed the then-Democrat Alexander in the general election. The final outcome seemed to indicate that Holloway's endorsement and the support of such Republican activist groups contributed considerably to Alexander's narrow margin of victory.<ref>Undated 2002 article from ''The Alexandria Daily Town Talk.''</ref> In 2004, Congressman Alexander switched to Republican affiliation with widespread support from district Republican leaders. That year, he handily defeated fellow Republican John Wyeth "Jock" Scott of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] in the nonpartisan blanket primary.​

In 2006, Alexander supported the appointment of Holloway to a high position in the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]. The selection required the approval of President [[George W. Bush]], who had supported Fletcher in the general election against Alexander. In a 2003 interview with James Harvey "Jim" Brown, the former Louisiana state senator, secretary of state, and insurance commissioner, Fletcher said that he did not have "a problem" with Holloway despite the disappointment to both in the 2002 congressional race.<ref>Jim Brown interview with Lee Fletcher, Politicsla.com, January 14, 2003.</ref>​

In 2006, Alexander supported the appointment of Holloway to a high position in the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]. The selection required the approval of President [[George W. Bush]], who had supported Fletcher in the general election against Alexander. In a 2003 interview with James Harvey "Jim" Brown, the former Louisiana state senator, secretary of state, and insurance commissioner, Fletcher said that he did not have "a problem" with Holloway despite the disappointment to both in the 2002 congressional race.<ref>Jim Brown interview with Lee Fletcher, Politicsla.com, January 14, 2003.</ref>

 

In 2007, Fletcher devoted himself to electing more Republicans to office and served as the northeast Louisiana consultant for the successful gubernatorial candidate, [[Bobby Jindal]].<ref name=obit/> He also urged voters in the 32nd state Senate district to elect Neil Riser, the Republican businessman from Columbia, who defeated a Democrat for the seat vacated by term-limited incumbent Noble Ellington of Winnsboro in Franklin Parish. Riser beat the Democrat former State Representative Bryant Hammett of Ferriday in Concordia Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lanewslink.com/print.php?article=2740|title=Endorsement: Neil Riser Is Heads And Shoulders Better Than Bryant Hammett|publisher=lanewslink.com|accessdate=October 3, 2009}}</ref> and vacates the seat in 2020.​ Fletcher's firm worked in eight campaigns and was successful in seven. The one loss occurred when the Fletcher-backed candidate advanced to the general election but then withdrew. Though self-described as a "Ronald Reagan Republican," Fletcher was a consultant for the Democratic [[African American]] [[mayor]] of Monroe, Jamie Mayo, in the latter's re-election campaign in February 2008. Mayo told a friend that his hiring of Fletcher "made the difference between winning and losing."<ref name=obit/>​

In 2007, Fletcher devoted himself to electing more Republicans to office and served as the northeast Louisiana consultant for the successful gubernatorial candidate, [[Bobby Jindal]].<ref name=obit/> He also urged voters in the 32nd state Senate district to elect Neil Riser, the Republican businessman from Columbia, who defeated a Democrat for the seat vacated by term-limited incumbent Noble Ellington of Winnsboro in Franklin Parish. Riser beat the Democrat former State Representative Bryant Hammett of Ferriday in Concordia Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lanewslink.com/print.php?article=2740|title=Endorsement: Neil Riser Is Heads And Shoulders Better Than Bryant Hammett|publisher=lanewslink.com|accessdate=October 3, 2009}}</ref> and vacates the seat in 2020.​ Fletcher's firm worked in eight campaigns and was successful in seven. The one loss occurred when the Fletcher-backed candidate advanced to the general election but then withdrew. Though self-described as a "Ronald Reagan Republican," Fletcher was a consultant for the Democratic [[African American]] [[mayor]] of Monroe, Jamie Mayo, in the latter's re-election campaign in February 2008. Mayo told a friend that his hiring of Fletcher "made the difference between winning and losing."<ref name=obit/>​