Indian American Jindal leads opinion polls (Pakistanis working against)

Hindustan times ^ | 11/10/03 | S. Rajagopalan

[freedom44]

Indian American Bobby Jindal appears to be calling the shots once again. The hardcore Republican, who is locked in a grim battle for governorship of Louisiana, has stolen a march over Democratic rival Kathleen Blanco in some of the latest opinion polls.

“Race far from over, but Jindal has five-point lead over Democrat Blanco,” headlined ‘The Town Talk’ after a poll commissioned by Louisiana Gannett newspapers

over the past week. Its finding: 48 per cent for Jindal, 43 per cent for Blanco and 9 per cent undecided.

Pollster Brad Coker, in a qualified comment, said: “It looks like it is his race to lose, but that doesn’t mean he has it nailed down. From the time the poll was finished, there were nine days left, a long time in a hotly contested race.”

Jindal, who had been trailing behind Blanco in some of the initial polls after his dramatic primary run on October 4, is now being projected as the front-runner in the November 15 decider by three other independent polls as well.

The forecasts have come as a surprise in a state over which Democrats hold sway. Blanco’s campaign has been dismissive of the projections. “Every poll is a snapshot of the electorate on a particular day and time. The objective of this campaign is what voters will say on Election Day,” a Blanco aide commented.

Jindal’s camp received a shot in the arm last week with New Orleans’ black Mayor, a Democrat, endorsing Jindal. He also got the Black Organisation for Leadership Development (BOLD) to endorse his candidature.

Pundits believe that the 30 per cent black vote will largely determine the Louisiana outcome. The Blanco camp, though surprised by the endorsements by Mayor Ray Nagin and BOLD, is confident that the African-Americans will overwhelmingly remain with the Democrats.

POLL PROJECTIONS

Louisiana Gannett: 48 % for Bobby Jindal; 43 % for Kathleen Blanco

Verne Kennedy’s tracking poll: Jindal (48 %); Blanco (39 %)

Ed Renwick for Loyala Institute of Politics: Jindal (39 %), Blanco (38 %)

Susan Howell for University of New Orleans: Jindal (44%), Blanco (40%)

• The 30 per cent black vote is a crucial factor. Traditionally, the African Americans have voted for Democrats. Republican Jindal, by securing a couple of important endorsements, is trying to split the black vote.

• Indian Americans an inconsequential factor in Louisiana. They number about 8,300 -- just 0.2 per cent of the state’s voting population.

• Pakistani Americans are working overtime to defeat Jindal. Says Ashraf Abbasi, head of the Pakistani American Congress: “We are working for her (Kathleen Blanco) from morning till midnight.” The group has raised $ 50,000 for her campaign.

[Az Joe]

Come on baby, 4 for 4!!!!!!!!!

[Callahan]

The Pakistanis really perceive Jindal as a threat, huh. Do they normally go Democrat?

[Prolifeconservative]

I just finished watching the second debate in three days. It was another clock-cleaning by Jindal. If Louisiana doesn't elect this brilliant man, I think I'm going to cry and then move out of State......maybe to Texas.

I seriously doubt the great people of Louisiana are going to let me down though.

VOTE JINDAL!!!!!!

[Vigilanteman]

Is it my imigination? Or did Jindal's upward spike in the polls really coincide with the Pakistani's endorsement of Blanco?

Now all Blanco need to do is ask Clinton to come in and stump for her.

[river rat]

Is it just my view...or does it seem like Arabs/Islam and American blacks have an affinity for one another?

I wonder exactly WHAT it could be????????

Semper Fi

[jocon307]

"...stolen a march..."

Nice brit turn of phrase. Sometimes I think we Amuricans lost out on some of the brit lingo. We definately got beat on boxing day.

GO BOBBY GO!

[GiveEmDubya]

""The Pakistanis really perceive Jindal as a threat, huh.""

Because after all, if Jindal wins, Louisiana's powerful foreign policy department will be squarely behind India, and who knows what that will mean to the conflict...

But seriously, I suppose they do. These Pakistanis in particular must really hate the Indians more than I thought if they're transferring their dislike of India on a small-state gubernatorial candidate who's never even lived there.

[OldFriend]

The Pakistani's made big donations to a certain NY senate campaign.

[PAR35]

Louisiana's powerful foreign policy department

I haven't kept up with things in recent years, but in the past (1980s) they did send officials as "observers" to OPEC meetings. They had a certain commonality of interest with the Arab oil states with regard to the price of crude.

[Pikachu_Dad]

No, I think it had more to do with the debate where ..

"Ms. Blanco, You can now ask a question of Mr. Jindal ... (1 second) ... ( 2 seconds) ... (3 seconds) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... (18 seconds). Ms. Blanco?"

[Az Joe]

This site seems to have a pretty good fix on the LA race and other goings on. Don't know if you know about them.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/

Here's the link to today's article on Jindal/Blanco:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/commentary.html#11_12_03_0752

[Prolifeconservative]

Thanks for the heads-up. Nice site. It's bookmarked.

[Cronos]

pakis will be islamics, they'll support like minded folks like the Democrits

[Stultis]

These Pakistanis in particular must really hate the Indians more than I thought if they're transferring their dislike of India on a small-state gubernatorial candidate who's never even lived there.

I don't know how it is in Lousiana, but here in Texas (DFW area) there seems to be little if any nationalistic emnity between Pakis and Indians. Together, second possibly only to Mexicans and Central Americans, they are this region's largest immigrant community. They are also one of the country's most highly educated immigrant communities. They share food stores, restaurants, etc, with no discernable strife. I know a number of Pakis who have Indian (abeit mostly Muslim) friends, and all the Pakis love Indian music and movies.

[Az Joe]

REALCLEAR POLITICS had it wrong didn't they? They tend to be a little over optimistic on Republican chances.

Why do you think Jindal lost? Was it the white and non-white thing again? I see that he did not respond to the attacks in the last week also.

[Prolifeconservative]

There are two reasons Jindal lost and they vary greatly.

The first and most important, when Blanco launched her attacks on the health-care issues he didn't respond. He played nice Republican and didn't respond in kind. He refused to counter-attack and it probably cost him an election.

The second reason he lost is just a sad commentary on Louisiana politics: He doesn't resemble anything voters can relate to. He doesn't fish, hunt, he's not cajun, he didn't marry cajun, he's not the back woodsy type.

You know, some people on other threads have joke if Bobby Jindal's name was instead BobbEAUX Jindaleaux he would have won. There's a lot of truth to that.

[Az Joe]

Oh well, would have been nice, but 3 out of 4 ain't bad.

I didn't pay real close attention to the whole thing. Didn't they have fairly similar views on most social issues? What was the big difference between them? I know Jindal was a real sharp guy just from the few times I've seen him speak. I hope he hangs around for something else.