Maybe that’s why, in separate conversations last week, no fewer than four McCain staffers and advisers mentioned as a possible vice-presidential pick the 36-year-old Louisiana governor, Bobby Jindal. They’re tempted by the idea of picking someone so young, with real accomplishments and a strong reformist streak.If I were Jindal's advisors, I would suggest he respectfully decline the invitation to be a VP candidate for McCain. If Jindal continues on the path to success he has had in Louisiana of late, in 4 years he could take on an incumbent Democrat and win and become the first Gen X President. But if he associates with McCain, he could end up being in the wrong place for a while.
It might also be a way to confront the issue of McCain’s age (71), which private polls and focus groups suggest could be a real problem. A Jindal pick would implicitly acknowledge the questions and raise the ante. The message would be: “You want generational change? You can get it with McCain-Jindal — without risking a liberal and inexperienced Obama as commander in chief.” I would add that it was after McCain spent considerable time with Jindal in New Orleans recently, and reportedly found him, as he has before, personally engaging and intellectually impressive, that the campaign’s informal name-dropping of Jindal began.
Plus, Louisiana needs a governor like him for a full term.
1 comment:
> Plus, Louisiana needs a governor like him for a full term.
Nail. Head. Ping!
In a few short months, Jindal has cleaned up a government that for decades had been a national laughingstock for its corruption. If he leaves, the reigns will fall to Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu -- (1) a Democrat, and (2) scion of previous status quo. The state and the GOP will both be better off if Jindal finishes this term and helps the voters choose a better successor in 2011.
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