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Spooner was the first Republican in seventy-six years even to contest the 5th district seat. The previous GOP candidate, Henry Ernest Hardtner (1870-1935) of LaSalle Parish, had polled a mere 628 votes (9.2 percent) in 1900 against the Democrat Joseph Eugene Ransdell (1858-1954) of Lake Providence in East Carroll Parish, who was elected with 6,172 votes (90.8 percent). Hardtner later became a Democrat and served in the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref>Anna C. Burns, "Henry E. Hardtner (1870–1935): Louisiana's First Conservationist," ''Journal of Forest History'' Vol. 22 No. 2 (April 1978)</ref> Ransdell thereafter served in the [[United States Senate]] until he was unseated in the 1930 primary election by [[Governor]] [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]]<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections'', 1900–1976, U.S. House races from Louisiana.</ref>​

Spooner was the first Republican in seventy-six years even to contest the 5th district seat. The previous GOP candidate, Henry Ernest Hardtner (1870-1935) of LaSalle Parish, had polled a mere 628 votes (9.2 percent) in 1900 against the Democrat Joseph Eugene Ransdell (1858-1954) of Lake Providence in East Carroll Parish, who was elected with 6,172 votes (90.8 percent). Hardtner later became a Democrat and served in the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref>Anna C. Burns, "Henry E. Hardtner (1870–1935): Louisiana's First Conservationist," ''Journal of Forest History'' Vol. 22 No. 2 (April 1978)</ref> Ransdell thereafter served in the [[United States Senate]] until he was unseated in the 1930 primary election by [[Governor]] [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]]<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections'', 1900–1976, U.S. House races from Louisiana.</ref>​

In preparation for his race and when he expected to face Passman, Spooner attended a Republican candidate training school in [[Washington, D.C.]] The [[Republican National Committee]] sent John Bruce Hildebrand, former editor of the party's ''First Monday'' newsletter who had written speeches for vice-presidential candidate [[Bob Dole]], to work on Spooner's behalf. Jennie Carroll Casey, a reporter at the time for ''The Monroe News-Star'', worked as an unpaid public relations specialist.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' pp. 348–349.</ref>​

In preparation for his race and when he expected to face Passman, Spooner attended a Republican candidate training school in [[Washington, D.C.]] The [[Republican National Committee]] sent John Bruce Hildebrand, former editor of the party's ''First Monday'' newsletter who had written speeches for vice-presidential candidate [[Bob Dole]], to work on Spooner's behalf. Jennie Carroll Casey, a reporter at the time for the ''[[Monroe News Star]].'' worked as an unpaid public relations specialist.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' pp. 348–349.</ref>​

Top-name Republicans, including former Governors [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of California and [[John Connally|John B. Connally, Jr.]], of Texas, later rivals for the party's presidential nomination in 1980, came into the sprawling district, with a large agricultural component, to urge voters to elect Spooner. Connally lashed out at the increased power of the House Democratic Caucus, which he maintained had undermined the influence of the more moderate party members, such as then U.S. Senator [[Russell Long]] of Louisiana.<ref>''The Alexandria Town Talk'', October 26, 1976.</ref> Connally did not know Spooner, but he had known Mrs. Spooner, the former Mary Flippo, when she was a child in the Connally neighborhood in [[Fort Worth]] in the 1950s. Reagan and Connally gave the race a high profile and helped to provide critical financial support for Spooner<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 348.</ref>

Top-name Republicans, including former Governors [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of California and [[John Connally|John B. Connally, Jr.]], of Texas, later rivals for the party's presidential nomination in 1980, came into the sprawling district, with a large agricultural component, to urge voters to elect Spooner. Connally lashed out at the increased power of the House Democratic Caucus, which he maintained had undermined the influence of the more moderate party members, such as then U.S. Senator [[Russell Long]] of Louisiana.<ref>''The Alexandria Town Talk'', October 26, 1976.</ref> Connally did not know Spooner, but he had known Mrs. Spooner, the former Mary Flippo, when she was a child in the Connally neighborhood in [[Fort Worth]] in the 1950s. Reagan and Connally gave the race a high profile and helped to provide critical financial support for Spooner<ref>''Louisiana History'', p. 348.</ref>

Reagan appeared in Monroe and Connally in West Monroe and [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], the oldest city in the state. Huckaby, who like Spooner was a political newcomer, nevertheless developed effective television advertising critical of out-of-state politicians trying to influence voters in an otherwise unnoticed Louisiana district.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=22703104|title=At Monroe Motel, Reagan Views Debate|author=Kathy Spurlock|date=September 24, 1976|work=''The Monroe News-Star''|access-date=August 12, 2018|author-link2=Photographer Jack Dietle}}

Reagan appeared in Monroe and Connally in West Monroe and [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], the oldest city in the state. Huckaby, who like Spooner was a political newcomer, nevertheless developed effective television advertising critical of out-of-state politicians trying to influence voters in an otherwise unnoticed Louisiana district.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=22703104|title=At Monroe Motel, Reagan Views Debate|author=Kathy Spurlock|date=September 24, 1976|publisher=''Monroe News Star''|access-date=August 12, 2018|author-link2=Photographer Jack Dietle}}

</ref><ref>''Louisiana History,'' p. 348.</ref>​

</ref><ref>''Louisiana History,'' p. 348.</ref>​