Bobby Jindal was once on most pro-life and conservative short lists as a potential presidential nominee; now the Louisiana Gov. is supporting his neighbor for president, Texas Governor Rick Perry.
CNN broke the news today that Jindal would support Perry’s campaign as an endorser and he will join his fellow governor tonight in Florida as the Republican presidential candidates engage in the next debate — the second to feature Perry following one last week.
The Jindal endorsement comes on the heels of the Romney campaign announcing earlier today that former presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor, had endorsed Romney. Pawlenty said Romney presents a strongly conservative alternative to pro-abortion President Barack Obama on the economy and jobs.
Like Perry, Jindal is solidly pro-life and has impressed and worked closely with pro-life advocates in his state. He is still considered a rising star within the Republican Party despite a less-than-stellar response to Obama’s State of the Union speech in 2009. He is the first Indian-American governor of a state and his support could indicate he may find himself on the short list for a vice-presidential nod should Perry win the nomination.
Jindal is regarded as an expert on health care, which would put him in a position to help Perry challenge Obama on the issue of Obamacare, the government-run health care plan pro-life groups opposed because of its abortion funding and rationing concerns.
LifeNews political reporter Andrew Bair weighed in on the significance of the Jindal endorsement.
“As a rising star in the Republican Party and a respected figure among conservatives, Governor Jindal helps Perry solidify his front-runner status in the field,” he said. “Jindal’s endorsement confirms the surging momentum for Perry and will be a boost to Perry’s clout among Republican donors.”
“Social media confirmed the enthusiasm surrounding Perry with Jindal’s name trending on Twitter in the US just minutes after the story broke,” Bair added. “At no point on Monday were Pawlenty or Romney trending topics despite both endorsement stories breaking within hours of each other. Jindal’s Perry endorsement successfully overshadowed Pawlenty’s endorsement of Romney.”
Bair believes both Jindal and Pawlenty are seen as potential Vice Presidential picks for Perry and Romney regardless of today’s endorsements.