Despite negative coverage by the majority of the state's newspapers, Long managed to gain the support of the "New Orleans States" and the "Shreveport Times." The "New Orleans Times-Picayune" and the "Shreveport Caucasian" supported Simpson, while the "New Orleans Item" supported Wilson. Long's seemingly inexhaustible energy gave him an advantage, as he managed to travel extensively across the state, making several stops a day in rural areas neglected by the other candidates. His campaign used the slogan "Every Man a King, But No One Wears a Crown." Long's theatrical oratory combined insulting his opponents and the corporations he blamed for the state's underdevelopment with promising increased educational funding, free textbooks, public hospitals, and free bridges and road improvements. He also campaigned against the corruption and wastefulness of previous administrations. Simpson and Wilson, offering only bland defenses of the status quo, were often overwhelmed when appearing alongside Long at debates and other campaign events. A widely publicized fistfight between Long and former governor Jared Y. Sanders during the campaign did nothing to damage Long's popularity.