McCain to Meet With Two Potential VP Candidates - Governors Crist (FL) and Jindal (LA)

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If he picks Jindal I will have a serious ethnic dilemma

you have to have ethics to have an ethical dilemma

ethnic

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If he picks Jindal I will have a serious ethnic dilemma

you have to have ethics to have an ethical dilemma

ethnic

From where he's from, ethnic is a foreign word.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

You're on a roll today.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You're on a roll today.

I'm on auto pilot today...sorry.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

If he picks Jindal I will have a serious ethnic dilemma

you have to have ethics to have an ethical dilemma

ethnic

From where he's from, ethnic is a foreign word.

that better?

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Is it November yet? sighs.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

From what I have seen of Crist he sounds like a good man.

Crist is a populist. He's not really getting much done here in FL but he does sport a nice smile.

[jundp 191]

If he picks Jindal I will have a serious ethnic dilemma

Why doth you say thusly?

I love Bobby Jindal. He has done nothing but good for Louisiana since he was about 24 years old. His record is pretty amazing.

[jundp 191]

Interesting....

My Republican friends from Louisiana quite like Jindal, but I suppose many see him as too young and inexperienced.

Jindal trying to quiet talk of McCain's No. 2

But Arizona visit offers chance to test pair's political chemistry Friday, May 23, 2008By Bruce Alpert

WASHINGTON -- Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal on Thursday continued to play down speculation that he's a serious contender to be John McCain's running mate as he prepared to join two others discussed for the GOP ticket for Memorial Day weekend barbecuing at McCain's Arizona ranch.

As pundits debated whether he would be a good vice presidential candidate, with his age, 36, viewed as both a potential plus and negative, the McCain campaign and Jindal continued to insist the weekend won't be about narrowing down the field of choices. It's purely a social event, campaign officials said, although Deputy Republican National Committee Chairman Frank Donatelli suggested that it might help McCain assemble his fall campaign team.

In addition to Jindal, slated to attend are possible vice presidential choices Charlie Crist, the Florida governor whose endorsement of McCain helped him win Florida's January primary, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who unsuccessfully challenged McCain in the GOP presidential primaries.

University of Arizona political science professor Barbara Norrander said recent presidential candidates have moved away from picking a candidate for strictly strategic reasons -- the ability to help win a state's electoral votes or give a ticket geographic balance -- and put more emphasis on choosing someone they think they could work well with.

While the weekend at his compound near Sedona, Ariz., might be more social than political, as the McCain campaign insists, it could give a sense of personal chemistry, Norrander said.

Also participating in the political get-together are Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., a 2000 Democratic vice presidential candidate with Al Gore who has been campaigning for McCain; Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a close McCain ally; and Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., another unsuccessful GOP presidential candidate. Any of those three could also make the short list of potential McCain running mates.

--- Jindal not ruling it out ---

Asked about the vice presidential rumors during an event Thursday in the Governor's Mansion, Jindal reiterated his past statements that "I've got the job I want." But he again refused to take himself out of consideration. "It would be presumptuous for me to turn down something that has not been offered," Jindal said.

Regardless of what happens, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said it is a "real honor" for Jindal to be considered. Her Republican colleague, David Vitter, R-La., said the freshman governor would be a great choice for McCain, although "I'd hate to lose him" as governor.

Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Chris Whittington, seeking to raise a potential political price for all the national media speculation, argued that state voters aren't happy to see their newly elected governor putting "his political career ahead of the people of Louisiana" so soon after being sworn in as governor Jan. 14.

Pundits disagreed about the likelihood of McCain choosing Jindal, or even whether it made political sense. Some suggested that Jindal, the son of Indian immigrants, would help McCain compete with likely Democratic nominee Barack Obama, an African-American who has generated strong support among young voters for his message of unity and change.

Jindal's age could reassure some voters concerned that McCain, 71, is too old for the presidency, according to some pundits, while others said the age difference is so big as to put more attention on McCain's senior status.

"I suspect Jindal is on McCain's list because he is very popular among conservative thinkers and shakers, who see the governor as one of their party's brightest prospects down the road," said Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution. "But his selection would make little sense for either of them. Because of his age and questions about his health, McCain needs a running mate who is widely seen as ready to assume the responsibilities of the presidency. Jindal doesn't fit the bill."

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