Politics on the Farm: Ag Wields Powerful Influence in La. Elections

by Greg Hilburn, USA Today Network

BATON ROUGE — Gov. John Bel vividly remember last year's Farm Bureau Federation Convention, where one of the first gubernatorial forums gave the candidates a stage.

"It really set the tone for the election," Edwards told USA TODAY Network Louisiana this week. "It's where (Republican U.S. Sen.) David Vitter first showed his true colors, and it followed him throughout the campaign."