Nagin Goes for the White Guilt Vote

Today is the election runoff for mayor of New Orleans, and as James Taranto points out, current Mayor Ray "Schoolbus" Nagin is not expecting to win. As a result, he's decided to make a last minute play for the white guilt vote:

Nagin says a victory in tomorrow's election will send a message on race that "will echo throughout America."

"This election will say in spite of American prejudice, I was able to attract votes from all races and classes and move forward with the process of healing," said Mr. Nagin, who has hinted that whites locally and nationally are working to unseat him from the post, which blacks have held for nearly 30 years.

Mr. Nagin questions the source of "$6 million" that opponent Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu has raised, hinting at an effort to return the city to the "good-old-boy system," and says Hurricane Katrina exposed the soft underbelly of race and class in America.

I'm not sure it will matter who wins down there. They'll probably just be exchanging one crook for another, but if Nagin loses, I hope it's decisive and maybe all politicians can take a lesson from what happens when you prove to be completely incompetent.