New Orleans Moule Sa Voix

Voters in New Orleans have been voting all day in a mayoral election apparantly designed to boost Californians' senses of civic pride. Twenty-two candidates are battling it out for the right to rule a blighted, once-great metropolis, and the top two vote-getters will head to a runoff. Mayor Ray Nagin is expected to celebrate a first- or second-place showing, accompanied by the sweet sounds of Parliament/Funkadelic. Democratic Lt. Gov Mitch Landrieu and sour-pickle-taster Ron Forman are expected to fight for the other slot. The Hotline provides some interesting background on the race, including this exchange between Forman and Republican Rob Couhig.

During the Chris Matthews-moderated debate on 4/19, Forman said to Couhig, "They call you the pitbull," to which Couhig responded, "They call you the nothing."

When polls close, results should be posted here.