In this Sept. 27, 2007 file photo, Anh "Joseph" Cao, a Vietnamese-American, speaks to a reporter as... 
(AP)
"This is quite a feat," Rigamer said of Cao's victory.
New Orleans voters had long been loyal to Jefferson, re-electing him in 2006 even after news of the bribery scandal broke. Late-night TV comics made him the butt of jokes after federal agents said they found $90,000 in alleged bribe money hidden in his freezer.
"People are innocent until proven guilty," said Faye Leggins, 54, an educator and Democrat who moved back to the city six months ago and still has fresh memories of Hurricane Katrina. She voted for Jefferson on Saturday. "He has enough seniority, so he can do a lot to redevelop this city."
But Republicans argued the scandal had cost Jefferson his clout in Congress. Election Day brought excitement to the state's usually low-key Vietnamese-American community, said David Nguyen, 45, a store manager and Cao supporter.
"The Vietnamese aren't much into politics," he said.
Cao came to the United States as a child after the fall of Saigon in 1975 and went on to earn degrees in philosophy, physics and law.
Both the 2nd and 4th Congressional District races were postponed because of Gustav, which struck in September.
In the 4th District, Republican Fleming, a physician, had 48 percent of the vote to 47 percent for Carmouche, the Democrat. Two minor party candidates split the remaining vote.
Both candidates had help from national heavyweights as Republicans tried to maintain their hold on the district and Democrats looked to add to the seats they gained Nov. 4. President-elect Barack Obama recorded a radio ad for Carmouche, while Vice President Dick Cheney helped Fleming with fundraising.
The national GOP also backed Cao, an immigration lawyer, with a barrage of advertising portraying Jefferson as corrupt.
Prosecutors contend Jefferson used his influence as chairman of the congressional Africa Investment and Trade Caucus to broker deals in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and other African nations on behalf of those who bribed him.
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