Will Bobby Jindal enter the Senate race now?

HindustanTimes.com ^ | Washington, December 18 | S Rajagopalan

[AM2000]

Will Bobby Jindal, the Indian American who narrowly lost Louisiana governorship, now run for the US Senate? Sections of American media are agog with speculation on this score after Louisiana’s Senator John Breaux announced that he would not seek re-election in 2004.

Jindal was not immediately available for comment. But in a recent interview he had said that he was keeping his options open. The Senate elections are due in November 2004, along with the presidential elections.

Breaux, the Democratic Senator from Louisiana since 1986, had hinted at his retirement plans some time ago, but made a formal announcement on Monday.

Two members of the US House of Representatives — Democrat Chris John and Republican David Vitter — have indicated their plans to run for the seat being vacated by Breaux. But several others are expected to jump in in the coming weeks.

After Jindal’s stunning showing in the gubernatorial elections, several Louisiana newspapers are speculating that the 32-year-old Republican whizkid may throw his hat into the ring. But Jindal has largely kept to himself lately, except for an interview to India Abroad.

Asked about a possible Senate run, Jindal told the weekly: “At this point, I have just wrapped up my campaign and have not really thought about what we want to do next. We are certainly keeping all our options open.”

Does that mean he is open about a possible run for the Senate next year, he was pointedly asked. “That’s right,” Jindal replied, without any further elaboration.

Gordon Harvey, a political historian from Louisiana, is among those who reckon Jindal’s entry as “a logical possibility” after he came so close to victory in the governorship race.

Apart from Representative Chris John, names of several other Democrats have begun doing the rounds, including outgoing Attorney General Richard Ieyoub, who finished third in the recent governorship race.

In contrast, the Republican field appears to be less crowded. Apart from Representative David Vitter, the “chatter” within the party is about Jindal and oil tycoon Pat Taylor of New Orleans, who had paid for Jindal’s television blitz during the final phase of his campaign.

[Jaysun]

I hope that the Republicans in Louisiana run someone that can win. The race for Governor in Louisiana shouldn't have been "close", it should have been a run away for Republicans. The same is true for the last race that Gray Davis won in California before being recalled. I think that in both cases the Republicans chose the wrong candidate. Jindal isn't the man to run.

[Cicero]

Jindal should run for Vitter's House seat. Then he could try for the Senate in four years.

[deport]

• Four Louisiana Congressiona Seats in Play
• (US Rep. David) Vitter (LA-01) Announces Run For Senate (Breaux's Seat)

[HitmanLV]

Jindal is a good fella, no question, but he just lost a statewide race 47-53, not bad, but still a loss.

I don;t think he should follow with another statewide race. He is a young, ambitious man. He should take his time.

He shoudl run for Congress or somthing and get elected to DC. HE has his whole life to climb the ladder. I'm no expert but given he is off a tough statewide loss, he shoudln't go for another statewide elected office.

[jagrmeister]

Agreed. He should build a congressional record for Louisiana and then perhaps take on Landrieu when she comes up for re-election.

[dwswager]

Simon in CA and Jindal in LA were OK candidates. Jindal ran a decent campaign, but the large the large African American vote (which is dependably democrat) and some anti Hindu bigotry probably led to his defeat. In CA, Simon ran a poor campaign, but his problem was the Republican party in CA. Everyone from the top down, all the RINOs not only did not help, but actually hurt Simon. Same happened in NJ with Shundler. Whitman should have been fired from the EPA the day after Shundler won the primary and she wasn't in NJ doing backflips. How come everytime a Liberal Republican runs, conservatives are expected to line up in suppport, but everytime a conservative runs, the liberals piss and moan. Oh yeah, they're liberals.

[republicanwizard]

You are 100% correct. Senator Jindal would easily be possible in 2008.