Analysts think Jindal is acting like presidential candidate to be

06:30 AM CST on Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Maya Rodriguez / Eyewitness News

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s name is making the rounds on the Sunday political talk shows as a possible Republican candidate for president in 2012 or 2016.
With the publicity and a trip to Iowa coming up later this month, talk is growing that the state’s rising star is also the GOP’s rising star.

“This smacks of a guy who is laying the groundwork to run for president,” said Eyewitness News Political Analyst Clancy DuBos. “That's what you do if you're running for president. If you're just the governor of Louisiana, you don't go to Iowa because you want the corn."

Jindal’s trip to Iowa is to address the Iowa Family Policy Center as keynote speaker for their banquet. Not coincidentally, Iowa is the state with the first caucus of the presidential election cycle.

"Iowa is the first stand, so he has to branch out, make connections among several county chairs, state party leaders and Iowa is the first place to do so," said Brian Brox, a Tulane political science professor.

But it’s more than just a trip to Iowa that’s fueling the speculation. Earlier this year Governor Jindal’s name was mentioned as a possible vice-presidential pick for Senator John McCain and the governor also campaigned and attended fundraisers for Republican candidates outside of Louisiana.

"You build up IOU's around the country from key movers and shakers in the party by helping them raise money, helping them get elected and when it's your turn, they pay you back," explained DuBos.

Brox says that even though 2012 may seem like a long, long time from now, it’s not too early to start planning.

"He can't wait to make the preparations. He has to have everything in place in the next two to two and half years - so that if he makes the call, he's ready to go."
A spokesperson for Governor Jindal reiterated what he has said so often, that he ‘has the job he wants,’ and is hoping to be re-elected.