BATON ROUGE, La. -- State Rep. Karen Carter joined animal welfare activists Wednesday to launch a campaign against cockfighting in Louisiana.

Carter and Wayne Pacelle, a vice president of the Humane Society, called cockfighting "inhumane and barbaric."

Louisiana and New Mexico are the only states that still allow cockfighting, and national sentiment against it is taking its toll. The latest blow came with passage of a federal law making it illegal to ship game cocks across state lines or to other countries for fighting purposes -- eroding cockfighting proponents' arguments that the sport is an economic boon to the state.

The Humane Society has released a poll showing strong support for outlawing cockfighting in Louisiana. Pacelle said supporters of Carter's bill would launch a publicity campaign, including some paid media, to encourage voters to urge lawmaker support of the bill.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco has not taken a position on the bill. Carter said she has not talked to Blanco about the issue.

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