[StBernard] Jindal could face a conflict between vote in DC and gov's debate

[Westley Annis]

Jindal could face a conflict between vote in DC and gov's debate

Associated Press

 

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Bobby Jindal faces a looming potential dilemma that
could put his gubernatorial campaign plans on a collision course with his
job as a U.S. congressman - and he wasn't talking Tuesday about which role
will take precedence, if he's forced to choose.

 

The final gubernatorial debate of the primary campaign is taking place
Thursday, the same day that the House of Representatives is scheduled to
vote on an effort to override President Bush's veto of a bill to expand the
popular children's health insurance program.

 

Jindal, R-Kenner, has been under fire from opponents for both his skipping
of candidate forums and his skipping of the most recent congressional vote
on the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Jindal, who voted against
a previous version of the bill, now says he supports the program and plans
to vote to override Bush's veto.

 

But what happens if the debate and the vote happen at the same time? Jindal
wasn't saying Tuesday which he would choose.

 

"We're still waiting to see if we can do both. That's obviously our
preference," he said at a campaign stop in Baton Rouge.

 

Jindal said he should have a clearer view of the congressional schedule on
Wednesday, and he said he's got plane tickets reserved to head to Washington
on Thursday. But if the two events run at the same time? Again, Jindal
refused to make a public choice yet.

 

"We'd like to do both," he said.

**

Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Chris Whittington said he would consider
talking to independent John Georges about donning the Democratic label in a
November gubernatorial runoff if he's left standing against Republican
front-runner Bobby Jindal.

 

Addressing the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, Whittington said his
party would prefer Georges to Jindal regardless.

 

"Sure, we would prefer Georges over a Republican," Whittington said of the
New Orleans-area businessman, who first launched his bid for governor as a
Republican before shedding his party affiliation in an effort to jump-start
his first run for public office.

 

Two major Democratic candidates are in the race: Public Service Commissioner
Foster Campbell of Elm Grove and state Sen. Walter Boasso of Arabi. The
primary election is Saturday.

 

Julie Vezinot, spokeswoman for the Democratic Party, said Whittington has no
plans to endorse Georges or to offer him an invitation to switch parties.
"We would just be willing to have a conversation to see what he's thinking,"
she said after Whittington's comments.

 

Told of Whittington's remarks, Georges said he has had no talks with the
chairman or other Democratic leaders.

 

"My feeling is that I imagine when I make the runoff, both parties will give
me a call," Georges said. Asked why he believes Republicans would consider
him a viable option against one of their own, he said, "If their guy can't
win in the first, they'll turn on him."

 

**

Republican candidate for governor Bobby Jindal picked up endorsements from
three of the state's largest newspapers, representing central and north
Louisiana.

 

The Times of Shreveport applauded Jindal's confidence, energy, youth and
second-generation immigration roots in backing him for Saturday's primary
election. The newspaper also endorsed Jindal in 2003, in his failed bid for
governor against Democrat Kathleen Blanco.

 

"Now, four years later, as a more seasoned politician and no doubt a wiser
man, Jindal is the candidate we trust most to take the wheel of recovery and
steer the entire state toward a brighter horizon," the Times' editorial
said.

 

The News-Star of Monroe said Jindal, a congressman from Kenner, has
campaigned in every corner of the state, learning about the needs of each
specific region. The newspaper applauded his stance on ethics reform and his
conservatism.

 

"Of the major candidates, we see Jindal as the clear collaborator in Baton
Rouge, the consummate consensus builder," the editorial said.

 

Jindal also picked up the backing of the Alexandria Daily Town Talk in the
round of endorsements over the weekend.

 

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.