Bobby Jindal, current governor of Louisiana and official ‘potential running mate of John McCain’ according to the media, has announced that he will not accept a VP nod from the Shamnesty King.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said Wednesday he will not run for vice president on the GOP ticket, making him among a growing number of those pulling themselves out of the race.
Smart move by Jindal and a loss for McCain. I think Jindal could eventually make a good VP, because he is a relatively solid conservative and has shown some skill in handling Louisiana’s messes. Now, however, is not the right time. Whether McCain wins or not, the moderate wing of the Republican Party is quickly running out its welcome. Jindal would be committing career suicide to sign on with McCain as a relative unknown. Now, if a conservative like Romney were his VP, it wouldn’t hurt the latter much, because everyone knows his name and knows where he stands.
Jindal cannot afford to let his big public name recognition event be running as the VP to the Republican politician who is most hated by his own party.
McCain, I think, was looking for a lot of things with Jindal. First, Jindal is a young guy (half McCain’s age) who would bring some Obama-esque rockstar atmosphere to the party. Also, let’s face it folks, he is a minority. That’s something you can bet McCain’s camp was simply salivating over, but sorry for them, they are not going to get it.
One huge reason why this pairing would never have been completely viable and why many people would have looked at this with suspicion is the huge gulf (no pun intended) separating the two candidates on illegal immigration.
Observe:
John McCain On the Issues
Rated 18% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance.
(Dec 2006)
Bobby Jindal On the Issues
Rated 100% by USBC, indicating a sealed-border stance.
(Dec 2006)
There is not much agreement there, folks. Jindal needs to spend a few more years cleaning up Louisiana, and then come back when a real conservative is running, hop aboard and make his noise then.
I think Jindal has promise; hopefully we’ll be hearing his name again more in the future.
