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As a youth, Fletcher campaigned for the election of [[Ronald W. Reagan]] for [[U.S. President]]. He worked in the [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] administration and in the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]. He was a graduate and former faculty member of the [[Republican National Committee]] Campaign Management College and its Leadership Institute Campaign School in Arlington, [[Virginia]].<ref name=obit/>

As a youth, Fletcher campaigned for the election of [[Ronald W. Reagan]] for [[U.S. President]]. He worked in the [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] administration and in the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]. He was a graduate and former faculty member of the [[Republican National Committee]] Campaign Management College and its Leadership Institute Campaign School in Arlington, [[Virginia]].<ref name=obit/>

In 1996 and 1997, Fletcher was the campaign manager and then the chief of staff for U.S. Representative John Cooksey of Monroe, who limited himself to three terms. Cooksey edged out the comeback attempt of former U.S. Representative Clyde Cecil Holloway of Forest Hill in south Rapides Parish, the last person to represent the since defunct 8th congressional district. Cooksey defeated in the runoff election, technically the [[general election]] in Louisiana the Democrat state legislator Francis Coleman Thompson of Delhi in Richland Parish.<ref name=obit/>​

In 1996 and 1997, Fletcher was the campaign manager and then the chief of staff for U.S. Representative John Cooksey of Monroe, who limited himself to three terms. Cooksey edged out the comeback attempt of former U.S. Representative Clyde Cecil Holloway of Forest Hill in south Rapides Parish, the last person to represent the since defunct 8th congressional district. Cooksey defeated in the runoff election, technically the [[general election]] in Louisiana the Democrat state legislator [[Francis C. Thompson]] of Delhi in Richland Parish.<ref name=obit/>​

It was in the 2002 race to succeed Cooksey, who ran unsuccessfully that year for the [[United States Senate]], that Fletcher lost to Rodney Alexander. Fletcher first edged out Clyde Holloway for the general election berth against Alexander. Also in the running was another major Republican candidate, then state Senator Robert J. Barham of Oak Ridge in Morehouse Parish.​ Alexander led in the primary with 52,952 votes (29 percent). Fletcher followed with 45,278 (25 percent). Holloway polled 42,573 votes (23 percent), and Barham received 34,533 votes (19 percent). Three others divided the remaining but potentially crucial 5 percent of the primary ballots.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, November 5, 2002.</ref>​

It was in the 2002 race to succeed Cooksey, who ran unsuccessfully that year for the [[United States Senate]], that Fletcher lost to Rodney Alexander. Fletcher first edged out Clyde Holloway for the general election berth against Alexander. Also in the running was another major Republican candidate, then state Senator [[Robert J. Barham]] of Oak Ridge in Morehouse Parish.​ Alexander led in the primary with 52,952 votes (29 percent). Fletcher followed with 45,278 (25 percent). Holloway polled 42,573 votes (23 percent), and Barham received 34,533 votes (19 percent). Three others divided the remaining but potentially crucial 5 percent of the primary ballots.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, November 5, 2002.</ref>​

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 [[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 [[Jock Scott]] of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] in the nonpartisan blanket primary.​