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Waggonner said that he would remain neutral, but shortly before the primary he criticized Roemer's suggestion that the Red River navigation program might have to be scaled down or delayed as a means to fight excessive government spending and inflation. Political observers regarded Waggonner's criticism of Roemer as a factor in Roemer's failure to obtain a general election berth. For years, the Louisiana delegation, particularly Waggonner and Democratic U.S. Senators  [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], and [[Russell Long]], had worked to make the river navigable from Shreveport through Alexandria and south to Simmesport, on the Avoyelles and Pointe Coupee parish border.  

Waggonner said that he would remain neutral, but shortly before the primary he criticized Roemer's suggestion that the Red River navigation program might have to be scaled down or delayed as a means to fight excessive government spending and inflation. Political observers regarded Waggonner's criticism of Roemer as a factor in Roemer's failure to obtain a general election berth. For years, the Louisiana delegation, particularly Waggonner and Democratic U.S. Senators  [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], and [[Russell Long]], had worked to make the river navigable from Shreveport through Alexandria and south to Simmesport, on the Avoyelles and Pointe Coupee parish border.  

Wilson had the enthusiastic support of the national and state Republican organizations. Four recognized Republican names appeared on his behalf, including former President [[Gerald Ford]], former Governor [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]], former Texas Governor and former Treasury Secretary [[John B. Connally, Jr.]], and former Texas U.S. Representative [[George Herbert Walker Bush]]. He also won the backing of state House Democratic colleague, Richard Harmon Drew, Sr., of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]].

Wilson had the enthusiastic support of the national and state Republican organizations. Four recognized Republican names appeared on his behalf, including former President [[Gerald Ford]], former Governor [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]], former Texas Governor and former Treasury Secretary [[John Connally|John B. Connally, Jr.]], and former Texas U.S. Representative [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], later the 41st U.S. President. He also won the backing of his state House Democratic colleague, Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995), of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]].

   

   

Leach, who carried the support of influential State Representative Walter O. Bigby, a Vernon Parish native living in [[Bossier City]][2] led in the primary with 35,010 votes (26.9 percent). Wilson trailed by .1 percent, with 34,841 ballots (26.8 percent). Roemer finished third with 33,302 votes (25.6 percent). Roemer hence lost a general election berth by some 1,500 votes. Weaver, who had the backing of ''The Shreveport Times'' and former Caddo Parish Sheriff [[James M. Goslin]], finished fourth with 17,396 votes (13.4 percent). The other candidates, including Judge Prestridge, trailed far behind.[3]

Leach, who carried the support of influential State Representative Walter O. Bigby, a Vernon Parish native living in [[Bossier City]][2] led in the primary with 35,010 votes (26.9 percent). Wilson trailed by .1 percent, with 34,841 ballots (26.8 percent). Roemer finished third with 33,302 votes (25.6 percent). Roemer hence lost a general election berth by some 1,500 votes. Weaver, who had the backing of ''The Shreveport Times'' and former Caddo Parish Sheriff [[James M. Goslin]], finished fourth with 17,396 votes (13.4 percent). The other candidates, including Judge Prestridge, trailed far behind.[3]

==Leach v. Wilson==

==Leach v. Wilson==

The general election promised from the start to be a closely contested event. Wilson was clearly the "business" candidate, and Leach was the choice of "moderates," including [[African Americans]] and [[organized labor]]. Blacks then comprised 31 percent of voters in the 4th congressional district and were expected to be decisive in the outcome of the  race, the first competitive one since the initial election of Waggonner I n 1961 over the Republican [[Charlton Lyons]]. Ironically, Leach's later congressional voting record was clearly on the "conservative" side, like that of his predecessor Waggonner, not on the "moderate" side as most observers had anticipated.  

The general election promised from the start to be a closely contested event. Wilson was clearly the "business" candidate, and Leach was the choice of "moderates," including [[African Americans]] and [[organized labor]]. Blacks then comprised 31 percent of voters in the 4th congressional district and were expected to be decisive in the outcome of the  race, the first competitive one since the initial election of Waggonner I n 1961 over the Republican [[Charlton Lyons]]. Ironically, Leach's later congressional voting record was clearly on the "conservative" side, like that of his predecessor Waggonner, not on the "moderate" side as most observers had anticipated.