New audio has been released of a conversation between Capt. Clay Higgins and his ex-wife in which the 3rdCongressional District candidate suggested winning the election would help him pay child support. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says it’s clear Higgins didn’t know the phone conversation was being recorded, so it’s hard to say how this will impact the election.

“For people who care about this kind of thing or have it on their radar, it’s unclear if it would impel them to vote against it or vote for him because they feel like he’s been taken advantage of,” Cross said.

Higgins reportedly owes more than $100,000 in child support to ex-wife Rosemary Rothkamm-Hambrice. Cross says Higgins’ personal issues that have been arising throughout the campaign are problems that the public can relate to.

“They’re not particularly dramatic. People think you should pay your child support, but they understand if you lose your job or change jobs, you can have trouble doing that,” Cross said.

In the latest poll from the Trafalgar Group, Higgins leads Public Service Commissioner Scott Angell 49-% to 46%. Cross expects it will be a tight race. He says the one thing that may give Angelle some hope is that the voters who turn out in a primary are different that those who come for a presidential race.

“With more chronic voters, Mr. Angelle may stand a better chance than Mr. Higgins, who perhaps benefited from the wave of Donald Trump enthusiasm,” Cross said.

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