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| Republican Govornor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana with wife Supriya. (Louisiana Gannett News Photo/Shane Bevel) |
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John McCain is putting out feelers to a conservative version of Barack Obama, his White House rival, as a possible vice-presidential running mate.
Daunted by the historic appeal of the first black candidate to be nominated for the White House by a major party, Mr McCain has spoken effusively of Oxford-educated Bobby Jindal, 36, the Indian-American governor of Louisiana – and last week described him as a potential future president.
"I believe Governor Jindal is the next generation of leadership, not just for the Republican Party but for America," Mr McCain said on Wednesday, a night after Mr Jindal had introduced him to cheering supporters at a rally in New Orleans.
In a year when the parlous state of both the economy and President Bush's approval ratings give the Democrats an apparent advantage, many Republican strategists believe that selecting a vice-president from outside the traditional Republican gene pool of white men in late middle age can level the playing field.
A Hindu who converted to Catholicism, Mr Jindal was one of three potential running mates, along with defeated candidate Mitt Romney and Florida governor Charlie Crist, invited to Mr McCain's retreat in Sedona, Arizona, for the Memorial Day weekend last month.
In just six months in charge in Louisiana, he has already made his mark, passing a rigorous ethics Bill in a state previously riddled with old-style political corruption.
Jim Nuzzo, a former White House adviser to the first President Bush, said: "Bobby Jindal is the future of the Republican Party. He's transformed Louisiana politics single-handed. He's a superstar. I can't see McCain choosing another dull white middle-aged man.
"The only problem is that Jindal may not be ready yet. Picking him would remove McCain's best argument against Obama, that he is too inexperienced."
Mr Nuzzo believes Mr McCain may also be tempted to pick a woman, in part to try to win over disgruntled supporters of Hillary Clinton who are queasy about Mr Obama.
The former Hewlett Packard boss, Carly Fiorina, is already part of his campaign and Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, is also regarded as an attractive and competent figure.
Mr McCain is launching a concerted effort to woo Clinton backers, particularly women who claim she was the victim of Democratic and media sexism.
On Friday his campaign team unveiled "Citizens for McCain", a new group targeting independent and Democratic voters.
It is headed by Senator Joe Lieberman, the former Democratic vice-presidential nominee now backing Mr McCain. In an accompanying email, he wrote: "The phones at the campaign HQ have been ringing with disaffected Democrats calling to say they believe Sen McCain has the experience, judgment and bipartisanship to lead our country."
John McCain praises Bobby Jindal; does that carry special meaning? Los Angeles Times
McCain holds town hall meeting in Baton Rouge WBXH
Jindal VP talk continues FOXNews
KSLA-TV - 2TheAdvocate
all 154 news articles »
[Jindal was born in Baton Rouge Louisiana to recently arrived Punjabi Indian immigrants Amar and Raj Jindal, who were attending graduate schools. His father left India and his ancestral family village of Khanpura in 1970. His mother, Raj Jindal, is an information technology director for the Louisiana Department of Labor]
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What Does Jindal Say About Veep Rumors?
Louisiana's Republican Governor, Bobby Jindal yesterday rejected the rumors about his veep intention, stating that he has never spoken to Sen. John McCain about the Republican vice presidential nomination. He reiterated his intention to remain the governor of Louisiana.
Jindal said yesterday afternoon, "We've never talked about it. We've had several conversations, not only when he's been here, by phone as well. We've always talked about Louisiana's needs, we've talked about national issues, but we've always been talking about how Louisiana is recovering."
However, speaking to reporters in Baton Rouge, Jindal refused to completely rule out accepting an offer to be McCain's running mate. He said, "I think it would be extremely presumptuous for me to turn down something that has not been offered to me. But I've been public in every conversation I've ever had with anybody, I've made it very clear I've got the job that I want."
According to rumors, Jindal, along with Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, were invited to McCain's home in Sedona, Ariz., this weekend.
But, Jindal said that the visit was meant for other reason; it was a chance to talk to politicians and business leaders about Louisiana. He explained, "It's a great opportunity for us to get the message out that Louisiana is open for business, we're rebuilding. We want the business community to come invest in Louisiana."
But the Louisiana Democratic Party disagrees with the intention of Jindal's trip. In a news release, Chris Wittington, chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party, said, "Bobby Jindal has always put his political career ahead of the people of Louisiana and his meeting with John McCain this weekend only drives the point home. Now, not six months into his term, his eye is on the prize of the Vice Presidency with little focus on what is going on here in Louisiana."
36-year-old, Jindal is the youngest serving governor in the United States. He insisted that his trip to Arizona will benefit his state. He said, "I think it'd be a good thing for the governor to have a good relationship with the next president of the United States; Senator McCain could be our next president."
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