- The Clash
Lots of political tongue wagging this week with the rumors
growing louder that Governor Bobby Jindal will run against Senator Mary
Landrieu in 2014.
Despite Jindal advisor Curt Anderson claiming that Jindal has “no interest” in running against Landrieu and multiple columns in The
Hayride extolling the virtues of Congressman Bill Cassidy and his allegedly $4
Million war chest (although the article doesn’t say what it will cost to buy
Cassidy any sort of name recognition or a personality), the Jindal for Senate rumor makes too
much sense.
With his current poll numbers at their lowest levels ever
and his inability to pass major legislation, Jindal’s chances of becoming
President, or even Vice-President, in 2016 look increasingly dim.
A Cabinet position, assuming the Republican nominee wins in
2016 and wants Jindal to be a part of the team, also looks remote.
Jindal as Secretary
of Health and Human Services? How could he be appointed to that post after he
gutted Louisiana’s healthcare system?
HUD? With all of the issues in New Orleans, are you kidding?
Energy? Not with the BP oil spill still in people’s minds.
Education? He pushed for vouchers and approves of Charter
Schools.
So, what’s left? Agriculture? Homeland Security? Labor?
Transportation? Veteran’s Affairs? Interior? Commerce? Treasury?
I don’t see Jindal getting, or even wanting, any of those
slots.
So, what will he do when his term is up, assuming he stays
on through 2015?
Can’t go back to Congress – already been there and done
that.
Campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination that
even he can’t believe he can win?
Sit out a couple of months and hope that Senator David
Vitter runs for and wins the gubernatorial race to replace Jindal and open up a
seat in the Senate? That could happen but why wait?
“This indecision’s bugging me”
Why not go to the Senate a year early for a term or two and
build your national profile for a Presidential or Veep run later? After all,
Jindal’s only 42. After 2 terms in the Senate, he would be all of 55 and have
even more of a resume.
In addition to getting to the Senate a year early (assuming
Vitter leaves and runs for Governor), defeating Mary Landrieu (beating an
incumbent Senator would make national news and catapult Jindal back into the
spotlight), getting Vitter’s hand-picked candidate (the not very Conservative
Cassidy) out of the race and out of Congress, and blocking a Vitter
gubernatorial bid by appointing Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne to serve as the
interim Governor, giving Dardenne a leg up on replacing Jindal, the scenario
could show that Jindal still is a powerful force in Louisiana.
Or, he could throw an additional monkey wrench into the pot
by appointing Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser as interim Governor.
Jindal and Dardenne are not on great terms and appointing Nungesser, or anyone
for that matter and bypassing Dardenne, would be a blow to Dardenne. Nungesser,
who has announced he will be running for Lt. Governor, was the beneficiary of
Jindal’s fundraising support after Nungesser lost his last attempt at the Lt.
Governor’s job.
Of course, this is all speculation and no one knows for sure,
probably not even the Governor. But, the good news is that it’s early. The
Senate race isn’t until November 2014 and Governor Jindal still has a job, for
now.
Jindal could announce his decision next spring and still
have time to campaign and beat Landrieu. Announcing that late would also freeze
Cassidy out since he’s already announced that he will not be seeking
re-election to Congress this fall.
The point is, it doesn’t really matter who writes what or denies what now.
But, I’m sure that somewhere Governor Jindal is smiling
since we’re even talking about him and not mentioning his failed tax swap plan.
Oops.
