La. Gov. Jindal lends endorsement in Virginia governor's race

RICHMOND

Louisiana Gov. Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is not interested in running for the U.S. presidency four years from now, he insisted Wednesday during a stop in the state capital.

Jindal was in town to endorse Attorney General Bob McDonnell's 2009 gubernatorial campaign.

"I intend to run for re-election as governor of Louisiana. That race will be in 2011," Jindal said when asked about his rumored presidential aspirations.

"I've got a great job, and I think Bob is going to find out being governor is one of the best jobs you can have in the political world. You actually get to get things done," the Republican governor said. "We've not yet even sworn in our president-elect. I think the American people are tired of presidential campaigning, politicking. I think anybody that is even thinking about running would be well-served to roll up their sleeves and support our new president, support our new Congress."

Like Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the 37-year-old Jindal is seen by some observers as a fresh face in a Republican Party that suffered significant election losses on the federal level this year.

His name has been mentioned as a Republican with a potentially bright future on the national stage.

Republicans and Democrats around the country are expected to be watching Virginia's 2009 election closely, particularly after Barack Obama carried the state and ended a 44-year streak of Virginia voting for GOP presidential candidates.

The only other state with a gubernatorial election in 2009 is New Jersey, which is a Democratic stronghold.

McDonnell is the lone Republican running for governor next year.

Three Democrats are interested in the race: state Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath; Del. Brian Moran, D-Alexandria; and former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe.

Eleven months before the election, it seems that nary a day passes without Deeds, McDonnell or Moran rolling out political endorsements.

On Tuesday, Deeds held a press event to tout the support he has among state and local elected officials from Richmond. A few hours after the Jindal announcement, Moran held a news conference touting his latest supporter: former U.S. Rep. L.F. Payne.

In endorsing McDonnell, Jindal cited the attorney general's work to toughen punishment of sex offenders and his stance on controlling state spending.

The two men share many socially and fiscally conservative beliefs, a point Virginia Democrats highlighted in an e-mail critical of McDonnell and Jindal.

"An extreme Republican endorsing an extreme Republican doesn't come as a surprise," said state Democratic Party spokesman Jared Leopold.

After the news conference, Jindal attended a private campaign fundraiser that brought in an estimated $150,000 for McDonnell, who previously represented Virginia Beach in the House of Delegates.

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com