By David Hammer, The Times-Picayune

The stakes have been raised in the race to replace departing City Councilwoman Shelley Midura in District A.

Last week, Republican Jay Batt, who was unseated by Midura four years ago, got a big endorsement from a powerful District A resident: District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro.

"With the help and support of people like Jay Batt, I believe we can be successful against the violent offender," Cannizzaro said at a news conference Thursday.

Democrat Susan Guidry came back Monday by releasing a poll she commissioned by Virginia-based Myers Research & Strategic Services showing her with a wide lead over Batt, Republican Virginia Blanque and independent Fred Robertson. The telephone poll of 400 likely primary voters in the district, which includes Lakeview and parts of Mid-City, Carrollton and Uptown, showed Guidry with 38 percent, Batt with 25 percent, Blanque with 6 percent and Robertson with 1 percent.

The poll was conducted Jan. 3 and 4 and had a margin of sampling error of 4.9 percentage points. Pollsters Andrew Myers and Lauren Spangler noted that their poll before the Batt-Midura primary in 2006 was a statistical dead heat, so they believe Guidry is in good position "if (she) has the financial resources she needs to undertake an aggressive campaign and communicate her message to the voters."