Warts and all, Americans love their candidates

Washington

EDWIN Edwards, the legendary former governor of Louisiana who also represented the US state in Congress, has been one of the most colourful and most corrupt politicians in recent American political history.

That a man who was long dogged by charges of corruption, not to mention womanising, and was found guilty of racketeering charges (and sentenced to 19 years in federal prison) had served four terms as governor of Louisiana - twice as many elected terms as other chief executives of that southern state - was a testimony to the popularity he had enjoyed among voters there.