The governor’s race hits the homestretch as Democrat John Bel Edwards and Republican David Vitter make their final pitch before the November 21st election. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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The Secretary of State’s office reports that over 257,000 registered Louisiana voters cast their ballot for Saturday’s runoff election during the state’s early voting period. That’s a 16-percent increase from the primary election last month. Early voting increased in 35 parishes across Louisiana with the largest increases coming in urban areas. It’s reported that based on early voter numbers, voter turnout for Saturday’s election is predicted to be 44-percent.

Republican David Vitter and Democrat John Bell Edwards will meet in a televised debate this evening. The debate will begin at 6PM and is being hosted by Nexstar Television stations. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Vitter really needs to fire up his supporters to cast their ballot Saturday…

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He says Vitter needs to show a kinder, gentler side of himself while still criticizing Edwards of being liberal and pro-Obama.

Could this year’s outbreak of bird flu result in a shortage of turkeys for Thanksgiving? Theresia Lavergne, Professor and Poultry Extension Specialist with the LSU Ag Center, says you’ll still be able to find a turkey, but a report in Poultry Times says you could see a 20 to 40 cent increase per pound for the bird….

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Lavergne says a lot of turkeys are kept in cold storage to have in the event of a shortage.