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Republican Congressman Bobby Jindal announces he's running for governor (Louisiana)
KPLC TV ^ | 1/22/07

Posted on 01/22/2007 7:36:07 PM PST by LdSentinal

From: The Associated Press BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, who lost his bid for governor in 2003, announced to supporters Monday that he would seek the job again this fall. "Our state, our communities, and our families have been through some very tough times. There is clearly a hunger for a new approach to governing," Jindal said in an e-mail to his supporters announcing his intentions.

Jindal, R-Kenner, will try to unseat Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who has said she is running for re-election. Blanco defeated Jindal in 2003, but she has faced criticism since hurricanes Katrina and Rita about her leadership abilities and her recovery initiatives.

The Republican congressman said he doesn't view this governor's race as a retread of 2003 because of the destruction of Katrina and Rita, which he said has given Louisiana new opportunities to correct old problems in education and health care. "The stakes are a lot higher. It's a brand new race. This isn't about looking backward. This is about looking to Louisiana's future," Jindal said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

The 35-year-old son of Indian immigrants, Jindal's first political campaign was for governor four years ago when then-Gov. Mike Foster, a Republican who couldn't run for re-election because of term limits, pushed Jindal for the job. Jindal had served as the secretary of the state health department under Foster from 1996 to 1998 and was considered a rising political whiz. When he lost the governor's race to Blanco, Jindal moved to Kenner, a suburb of New Orleans, and ran for Congress, winning overwhelmingly. He easily won a second term to Congress last year.

Though he has been fundraising for weeks, Jindal said he won't formally kick off his gubernatorial campaign until the summer. He said he will wait until lawmakers and Blanco wrap up their work in the regular legislative session that begins in April before hitting the campaign trail in earnest. Jindal said he won't constantly comment on or complain about the work of the governor or the Legislature in the upcoming months because he doesn't want to interfere with the state's recovery. "We're not going to be trying to micromanage or look over the governor's shoulder. We will try not to inject the race in the legislative process," he said. The primary election is Oct. 20, with a runoff scheduled Nov. 17.

The congressman enters the race with significant support. He is extremely popular in his congressional district, a staunchly Republican district that includes many of the suburbs of New Orleans. And a recent poll showed Jindal leading Blanco in the race. Jindal garnered nearly 59 percent of the vote, compared to Blanco's 35 percent in the survey by Southern Media & Opinion Research. Jindal led in each region of the state in the telephone survey of 600 likely Louisiana voters. The survey was conducted Jan. 12 through Jan. 14 and a had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Jindal wouldn't provide specifics about his fundraising totals so far, but he said his campaign exceeded a $1.5 million goal set for the end of December. However, the slate of candidates in the race remains unclear. Other possible candidates mentioned include Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, a Democrat from north Louisiana; state Sen. Walter Boasso, a Republican from St. Bernard Parish; U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, a Democrat from southeastern Louisiana; and Jim Bernhard, a former state Democratic Party chairman and chief executive officer of The Shaw Group Inc


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: 2007; blanco; governor; jindal; louisiana
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1 posted on 01/22/2007 7:36:08 PM PST by LdSentinal
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To: LdSentinal

BUMP


2 posted on 01/22/2007 7:39:54 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: LdSentinal

"...There is clearly a hunger for a new approach to governing..."

Really? Is that why they keep reelecting crooks? LA is a trainwreck, I would be greatly encouraged to see some good governing but after this past election, it ain't gonna happen.


3 posted on 01/22/2007 7:40:44 PM PST by brushcop (Men of B-Co 2/69 3ID, do you now feel betrayed after all your efforts & sacrifices in Iraq?)
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To: LdSentinal

BTTT!


4 posted on 01/22/2007 7:43:29 PM PST by PGalt
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To: LdSentinal

YAYNESS!!!


5 posted on 01/22/2007 7:43:34 PM PST by mom4kittys (If velvet could sing, it would sound like Josh Groban)
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To: brushcop
That was a very tiny portion of the electorate that did that. While I wouldn't bet the house on it I am very hopeful and confident that Jindal will win this time.
6 posted on 01/22/2007 7:44:39 PM PST by WatchOutForSnakes
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To: LdSentinal; fieldmarshaldj; AuH2ORepublican; Kuksool; zbigreddogz; Extremely Extreme Extremist; ...

The latest poll I saw gives Jindal a 59% to 35% lead over Kathleen Blanco. It looks good, although it's still very early.


7 posted on 01/22/2007 7:53:46 PM PST by Clintonfatigued ("Appointing Earl Warren was the biggest damn fool thing I ever did." Dwight D. Eisenhower)
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To: Clintonfatigued

I'm kinda pissed, though.

He ought to run for Senate, where he'd be a shoe-in and give us a GOP pickup.


8 posted on 01/22/2007 7:54:58 PM PST by TitansAFC (Pacifism is not peace; pacifists are not peacemakers.)
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To: brushcop

Well you're not from around here so you don't know but what happened here is the choices really sucked. So people voted the best they could. The Dems have successfully killed the republican farm league for talent. Jindal is a rarity and he's going to go really far.


9 posted on 01/22/2007 7:56:13 PM PST by Bogey78O (Nifong's final appeal before St. Peter should get tossed.)
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To: brushcop

LA isn't the trainwreck. NO is the cesspool of corruption which drags down the rest of the state with it. It sounds like Jindal has an excellent shot given that much of the Governor's base has moved out of NO. Furthermore, it is going to be hard to create multiple voters among a smaller base even with widespread absentee fraud.


10 posted on 01/22/2007 7:56:53 PM PST by Vigilanteman (Are there any men left in Washington? Or are there only cowards? Ahmad Shah Massoud)
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To: TitansAFC

Bobby is young and he will be more of a shoe-in for Senator after two successful terms as Governor. Have faith!


11 posted on 01/22/2007 7:58:13 PM PST by HitmanLV (Rock, Rock, Rock and Rollergames! Rockin' & Rolling, Rockin' with Rollergames!)
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To: TitansAFC

Not to worry. There are other qualified Republicans eyeing the race. Most notably, there is Congressman Charles Boustany. Also mentioned are Secretary of State Jay Dardenne and respected state Senator Julie Quinn.


12 posted on 01/22/2007 7:58:14 PM PST by Clintonfatigued ("Appointing Earl Warren was the biggest damn fool thing I ever did." Dwight D. Eisenhower)
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To: Clintonfatigued

I sure hope Jindal wins in November. He could be our Obama.


13 posted on 01/22/2007 8:02:15 PM PST by Kuksool (I learned more about political science on FR than in college)
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To: TitansAFC
He ought to run for Senate, where he'd be a shoe-in and give us a GOP pickup.

I wish he could do both. Bobby Jindal is brilliant and seems to be completely honest. I think he might already be considering a future run for President and governors beat senators in presidential races. Either way I will vote for Jindal every chance I get.

14 posted on 01/22/2007 8:04:32 PM PST by jamaly (I evacuate early and often!)
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To: Clintonfatigued

I wonder if Dardenne isn't trying to jump jobs a little too fast. We badly need a GOP Sec of State in LA to be on guard against any potential voter fraud shenanigans. This is why I'm backing Dr. Boustany for the Senate.


15 posted on 01/22/2007 8:05:22 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Cheney X -- Destroying the Liberal Democrat Traitors By Any Means Necessary -- Ya Dig ? Sho 'Nuff.)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

I agree. Dardenne needs to stay for that reason and the fact he hasn't held his office very long. Julie Quinn should seek to succeed Jindal in the House.


16 posted on 01/22/2007 8:06:39 PM PST by Clintonfatigued ("Appointing Earl Warren was the biggest damn fool thing I ever did." Dwight D. Eisenhower)
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To: Kuksool
"I sure hope Jindal wins in November. He could be our Obama."

Oh, dude ! Don't say that. Unlike Smilin' Hussein B.O., Jindal HAS substance.

17 posted on 01/22/2007 8:06:54 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Cheney X -- Destroying the Liberal Democrat Traitors By Any Means Necessary -- Ya Dig ? Sho 'Nuff.)
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To: Vigilanteman; Bogey780

I stand hopefully corrected, I agree with Vigilanteman about NO. I travel through LA often (it's a midway point for us), I love the state, and our friends, no problem. I've always wished for a better government but I keep having these blasted disappointments!

If I could just stay overnight with friends in the Achafalaya, I'd be happy as a pig in a poke. Don't get me wrong, my coon*** buddies voice the same thing...


18 posted on 01/22/2007 8:07:49 PM PST by brushcop (Men of B-Co 2/69 3ID, do you now feel betrayed after all your efforts & sacrifices in Iraq?)
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To: brushcop

"Really? Is that why they keep reelecting crooks?"

Metro New Orleans is much different from the rest of the state... Just like it would be unfair to judge all of California by what happens in San Francisco. And even in NO, there are pockets of conservatives with traditional family values.


19 posted on 01/22/2007 8:25:48 PM PST by Kirkwood
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To: WatchOutForSnakes

"While I wouldn't bet the house on it I am very hopeful and confident that Jindal will win this time."

Bobby can win if the Republicans in the northern half of the state get off their butts and actually vote this time.


20 posted on 01/22/2007 8:28:28 PM PST by Kirkwood
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