Rumor of the day: Jindal to challenge Vitter for Louisiana senate seat?
posted at 4:32 pm on April 10, 2009 by Allahpundit
So says lefty political analyst John Heilemann, sowing the seeds of Republican discord. It’s the Palin/Murkowski scenario all over again!
I was down in New Orleans, and I heard a great rumor that Bobby Jindal, who we were just talking about as a potential presidential candidate for the Republican party, is thinking about giving up the governorship and running for Senate against David Vitter, or for Vitter’s seat if Vitter doesn’t run. He’s got a terrible budget situation down there. He’s thrown himself into a Republican primary up in Baton Rouge that he’s going to apparently get creamed in. And I think what’s interesting is that that tells you that he’s got the message that 2012 isn’t his year.
The idea, I guess, is that Vitter’s so tarnished by the prostitution scandal that he’s ripe for the picking by Democrats, in which case the GOP needs a white knight to ride into the primary and bump him off first. Minor problem with that theory: He’s not as vulnerable as you’d think. Not only is he sitting on a war chest of more than $2 million but a serious Democratic challenger has yet to emerge. In which case, a scorched-earth primary between him and Jindal runs the risk of actually weakening the winner and increasing the odds of the seat flipping. Beyond that, why would Jindal give up the governorship and chance being left without an office if he challenges Vitter and loses? He’s already been a congressman, and Mary Landrieu, the state’s other senator, isn’t up for reelection again until 2014. There’s nowhere for him to go. If he’s thinking about a presidential bid in 2016, he’ll need some sort of prominent position to serve as his launching pad. Why gamble away the one he’s got for one he might not get? If he wanted an easier time of things by hiding away in the Senate, he could have gone after Landrieu last year.
Exit hypothetical: Jindal jumps in, slugs it out with Vitter in the primary, and a bloodied winner staggers on to the general. The Democratic nominee turns out to be weak and the race is in flux for months. Then, a la Jesse Ventura, an exciting upstart declares her candidacy, energizing the race with a third-party bid. It goes down to the wire and … voila. Senator Stormy!
Blowback
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no
rob verdi on April 10, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Sorry, but after the Obama debacle ends, the US will not elect another Senator POTUS for a long, looooong time.
Norwegian on April 10, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Painless never felt so good.
Kini on April 10, 2009 at 4:37 PM
no.
therightwinger on April 10, 2009 at 4:37 PM
I’d
hitvote for it.lorien1973 on April 10, 2009 at 4:38 PM
But they may elect an active senator…one who actually did something.
right2bright on April 10, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Of course, this is taken from the Chris Matthews Show, a show which still believes that we should take seriously people like Kathleen Parker, Dan Rather, and Andi Sullivan.
Snowed In on April 10, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Sure would like to be part of that encounter with Senator Stormy in the airport bathroom.
WashJeff on April 10, 2009 at 4:40 PM
I’m skeptical. Highly skeptical.
BadgerHawk on April 10, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Successful governor, heading to Congress, the Senate no less?
Building the resume, and well, I hope. Makes Jindal more of a national figure than just a regional figure. Smart move.
coldwarrior on April 10, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Don’t do it Bobby. I doubt this is true, but like Norwegian, I believe people will be looking at the Governors of America & the their governance as the litmus test for the next President. Hope & Change on the Ash heap of History FOREVER.
portlandon on April 10, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Well this is Nawlins and what’s the price for a good ol’BJ fo Po boy’s these days?
I smell desperation, or bad perspiration, from lefties. The anti-Palin, Jindal rumors, leads me to believe democrats think they’re better pole dancers than republicans.
If this third party really comes about, what would they call it?
A fist full of dollars?
Kini on April 10, 2009 at 4:44 PM
From the DraftStormy website…
Stormy Daniels 2012!
TheQuestion on April 10, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Key words in this post:
It’s the Rahmbo strategy, don’t take the bait.
msmveritas on April 10, 2009 at 4:45 PM
This rumor makes zero sense. Jindal will either run for governor or run for president. Governors are a much better launching pad for the presidency.
Senators rarely win, except, of course, when they run against other Senators.
Nessuno on April 10, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Why would Bobby just go to the Senate and tarnish himself with their antics?
Stay in Louisiana and fix things down there. He is already doing a magnificent job apparently.
I’m in NJ. I wish he would govern the state.
jencab on April 10, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Agreed, somebody on the left is still celebrating Fat Tuesday.
Kini on April 10, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Or maybe we could start “hearing” some “rumors” about Democrat discord.
For example:
My best friend’s sister’s boyfriend’s brother’s girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who’s going with a girl who saw Roland Burris drawing up plans to file to run against Pat Quinn at 31 Flavors last night.
Snowed In on April 10, 2009 at 4:51 PM
First, there was Dumb and Dumber.
Then came Dumber and Dumbest.
Now comes “Allahpundit and Allahpunditer.”
Soon at a debacle near you.
klickink.wordpress.com on April 10, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Yeah, at least Jindal wouldn’t be driving up and down the GSP at 90MPH. Plus NJ troopers would probably try to arrest him based on their profiling techniques.
Problem is in the NE is that Jindal would only associated with qwicky marts, as SloJoe Biden points out.
Kini on April 10, 2009 at 4:56 PM
I don’t think yours and Norwegians concerns about Jindal going into the POTUS race from a Senatorial post is as big a deal as others who have ran. He’ll still be running as one who had been a very successful Governor.
hawkdriver on April 10, 2009 at 4:56 PM
I don’t think yours and Norwegians concerns about Jindal going into the POTUS race from a Senatorial post is as big a deal as others who have ran. He’ll still be running as one who had been a very successful Governor.
hawkdriver on April 10, 2009 at 4:56 PM
oops
hawkdriver on April 10, 2009 at 4:56 PM
They can’t help themselves, they don’t have a clue how to govern. Let them gorge till they explode.
Did you hear that too? :p
msmveritas on April 10, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Not bloody likely. Jindal is where he knows he can actually do some good cleaning up the mess and corruption Left (sic) behind by Blank-O and Fast Eddie Edwards.
In the senate Jindal would have worse obstacles to getting things done like grinning Lugar, my kingdom for another corn / ethanol subsidy Grassley and chicken Hatch. All of them patting Jindal on the back while trying to protect business as usual.
viking01 on April 10, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Go from running an entire state to being a backbencher in the minority party with no committee to run?
Doubt it.
Ted Torgerson on April 10, 2009 at 5:00 PM
As some inciteful commenter posted earlier:
Christian Conservative on April 10, 2009 at 5:01 PM
maybe this rumor is floated to scare off any potential strong dem challengers for vitter’s seat.
kelley in virginia on April 10, 2009 at 5:01 PM
The Senate is a joke.
Really.
But I guess a few years in that joke qualifies you for Prez.
iamse7en on April 10, 2009 at 5:02 PM
If you lay with dogs, you will get fleas. Do not sully yourself with the mud and tripe that walks the halls of congress, Bobby.
*My apologies to my dog and all of his friends. I didn’t mean to insult him by comparing canines to congress. Congress is much, much worse.*
HornetSting on April 10, 2009 at 5:04 PM
about the senate: chuckie schumer said we didn’t need trad’l values anymore. and when i saw my new Virginia senator Mark Warner (a dem), hug chuckie on CSPAN, i knew the Mark Warner was touched by evil.
kelley in virginia on April 10, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Qualifications for POTUS should be restricted against anyone with senate and house experience on their resumes.
Kini on April 10, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Being in the senate doesn’t help Jindal. At all. Stay Governor. Throw criminals in jail. Clean up Louisiana politics. Improve students’ test scores. Grow the local economy. Expand health care coverage through market-friendly means. Whatever you do, don’t go back to Washington unless its as President.
Robert_Paulson on April 10, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Pigpen comes to mind. Pork Politics.
Kini on April 10, 2009 at 5:07 PM
I will say this about the Senate. A couple of generations ago, the Senate was filled with talented men and women and the center of national politics and government. Now, it really is almost a sideshow, and the talent-level of the average current US Senator is embarrassing.
Stay out of the Senate.
Robert_Paulson on April 10, 2009 at 5:09 PM
I miss the Reagan years also.
Kini on April 10, 2009 at 5:15 PM
I live in Louisiana.
I’d say it was idiotic to post such stupidity, as everyone here knows they are both ideologically the same and support each other, but of course, this is allahpundit we’re talking about, so is anyone surprised?
The same allahpundit who still doesn’t even know what his name means.
TTheoLogan on April 10, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Nerd v. Diaper Enthusiast. Put it on pay per view.
capitulus on April 10, 2009 at 5:17 PM
GO JINDAL GO!!
Dollayo on April 10, 2009 at 5:21 PM
Terrific.
Allahpundit on April 10, 2009 at 5:21 PM
Just a bunch of leftie bull****. Hoping the crats will sacrifice a goat for the slaughter against Vitter.
jsanderssr on April 10, 2009 at 5:26 PM
I don’t think I’ve evah see you so sensitive before…
Kini on April 10, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Jindal isn’t going to take on Vitter – that would be a mistake. Jindal will serve out his term as Louisiana’s governor.
Senators don’t make good Presidents – and I’m pretty sure Jindal is eyeing the White House – the question is – when? He’s only 37 and has a window of opportunity ahead of him that is 25 years wide if not wider.
HondaV65 on April 10, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Nah. He’s stated before he’s focused on reelection as gov., though he may run for POTUS instead. He’s already been a Congressman, and the Congress-Gov.-Senator circuit doesn’t set him up as well as a Congress-Gov. launching pad, especially if he waits 2012 out and runs as a two-term governor in 2016 (Assuming Obama pulls off 2 terms).
cs89 on April 10, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Takes ball & goes home….
portlandon on April 10, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Agreed. Jindal is a good conservative, and he will be a great candidate for POTUS. I’d like to see him as the Governor longer, and not get pulled into the Senate where his record could get construed into something it is not.
portlandon on April 10, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Who are you, and what have you done with cs89?
Snowed In on April 10, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Snowed In on April 10, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Heh.
I don’t want Obama to go two terms (can we remove him from office 5/1/09?) but he might.
Jindal’s bombshell speech… bombed. He seemed to learn from it, and might come back to get the primary nod for 2012. I’d say he’s at a 25% chance or less at this point.
Quitting the governor’s mansion and running against Vitter for Senate is just crazy, if he wants a shot at POTUS in the next decade.
cs89 on April 10, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Wait, I thought the Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne was going to run against Vitter in the primaries.
The only way I’ll vote for Vitter is if he wins the primary only to help keep the Dems from controlling the Senate in 2010. Don’t be fooled by his rhretoric, he’s a big earmark spender like the other senator we have. Both of them come to Louisiana and claim they are conservative enough for Louisiana yet spend like liberals in Washington.
He complained about government spending in the omnibus bill and voted against it. However he sure doesn’t mind having his earmarks in it. He has no principles and I would rather see a principled Republican in his place.
Lay-Z on April 10, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Mmmmmmmm. Not a good idea. Anyone with and sense at all would not run for Senator unless that will be the highest rung on the ladder for them. It would be the same advice Sarah Palin should and probably did get and that would be to stay away from Washington, DC especially the Senate. That place is toxic!
BetseyRoss on April 10, 2009 at 5:57 PM
I can`t imagine going from a governer to a U.S. senator. It`d feel like a demontion to me.
Stay where you are Bobby and kiss ass.
ThePrez on April 10, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Damnit!
ThePrez on April 10, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Proof we still have clueless people in Louisiana.
TTheoLogan on April 10, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Seriously, why is AP still working for hotair? How many times does he have to show he has no idea what he’s talking about before they replace him?
TTheoLogan on April 10, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Not a good idea for Jindal. He’s a little over halfway through his first term as Governor–let him show he can clean up the state, get re-elected in 2010, then possibly run for President in 2012.
Why get involved in a GOP primary with Vitter? He could support Vitter while running for re-election as Governor, possibly run for Pres. or VP in 2012, then go after Landrieu in 2014 if he loses.
Jindal has plenty of time to shine. No point in backstabbing his own side now. As for Vitter, he still has time to make up for his peccadilloes, and show the people of Louisiana that he’s serious about fighting pork and corruption.
Steve Z on April 10, 2009 at 6:16 PM
I heard that too from my best friend’s mom’s co-worker’s lawyer’s wife, and I hear she’s a real mover and shaker down in Springfield!
galenrox on April 10, 2009 at 6:16 PM
i’m saving my vote for president bobby jindal.run bobby run.you are the only one who talks like a consevative
wade underhile on April 10, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Seriously, why don’t the AP haters take their business elsewhere?
laelaps on April 10, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Cuz a lot of us find him humorous and very spot-on on a lot of issues that conservatives care about, even if we don’t agree with him 100%. You do have other options if you cannot tolerate his presence here, you know.
AUINSC on April 10, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Just remember Bobby… Obama notwithstanding, people like voting for governors for POTUS, not Senators.
JohnGalt23 on April 10, 2009 at 6:43 PM
I see, I’m clueless because I have a problem with Vitter. If you like the guy, fine, that’s cool. I prefer conservatives with principles, not someone who complains about spending while playing in the mad congressional cash grab.
Lay-Z on April 10, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Seriously, why are you still coming to HotAir? Why are you still reading AP’s posts? If you don’t like him, nobody is forcing you to visit the damn site. Buzz off.
MadisonConservative on April 10, 2009 at 6:47 PM
The unemployment rate is high enough. Quite calling for his job. It’s ridiculous.
portlandon on April 10, 2009 at 7:03 PM
Do you always crap all over your host’s furniture after being asked in? Your keepers should have trained you better.
flipflop on April 10, 2009 at 7:11 PM
If Obama turns out to be a two term President then the next President will be the “Media Idol” selected by the “Mains Stream Media” because they will have proved themselves the king makers.
rsl775 on April 10, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Lame idea. Governor is much better than senator. He’d have to be an idiot to do it. And he’s not an idiot.
Greg Q on April 10, 2009 at 7:36 PM
I find it hard to believe. Jindal is much better positioned to take on the filthy liar and all the other corrupt Democrats as one of 50 leaders instead of as one of 100 criminals in the Senate.
highhopes on April 10, 2009 at 7:45 PM
I think Jindal should go for it at some point. Just not right now. He would be good for another state office. I believe his chances at national office are about zero.
crosspatch on April 10, 2009 at 7:51 PM
That didn’t even make any sense.
TTheoLogan on April 10, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Aren’t you the guy that said Hitchens was beat up by jihadists?
TTheoLogan on April 10, 2009 at 7:58 PM
You’re clueless because you’re whining that one of the most conservative senators in the U.S. senate does some occasional requests for earmarks, that he should be replaced. This is the same idiotic mentality that has gotten us in the minority.
TTheoLogan on April 10, 2009 at 8:09 PM
You guys don’t get it. Jindal and Vitter are friends and have pretty much the same ideology. There’d be no reason for him to challenge vitter.
This is not even a story in louisiana because it’s so idiotic(and of course, probably why AP posted it).
TTheoLogan on April 10, 2009 at 8:10 PM
With all the other polticians that Louisiana has churned out, I doubt they will toss Vitter for his prostitution scandal.
Jindal may have some tough budget issues to deal with, but facing those issues is what makes a true leader. Running away to the Senate would not kill his Presidential aspirations, but will probably hurt his Senate bid as well.
Like Palin, if Jindal can weather this economic storm by relying on free market and conservative Principles (in stark contrast to Obama), it will put him in a great position for 2012 or later to make his case to the people.
Daemonocracy on April 10, 2009 at 8:25 PM
I worked for Vitter in his senate campaign in 2004. People don’t realize that he had admitted he had cheated on his wife prior to that and was getting marital counselling regarding it. He said he was not running for governor in 2003 because, basically, he had cheated on his wife. All of this happened before he was even in the Senate the first time.
That’s not at all to say it’s acceptable, but the idea that social conservatives, who have their greatest ally in Vitter, in Louisiana would vote for some pro-abortion liberal instead is idiotic. He’ll easily be reelected.
As far as with Jindal… again, you guys don’t get it. He ran for congress after losing in 2003 so he could run for governor in 2007.
TTheoLogan on April 10, 2009 at 8:29 PM
Like sail to Cambodia with Dick Nixon in command.
Del Dolemonte on April 10, 2009 at 8:45 PM
What is it with the AP hate? Do we want a self-validating circle jerk, or is it a good idea to occasionally take a look around at what the other side is saying about us and perhaps consider how to deal with it? Do you people want nothing but affirmations all day long about how our way is the best way? The rest of the world is happening. The majority of people don’t seem to understand what we stand for (hell, WE don’t even seem to understand what we stand for). I think AP does a pretty good job of going out and dragging back links to things that should give us a chance to recognize that our message is either being diluted by RINOs in the media, or misrepresented by our own appalling inability to communicate. So now we want to kill the messenger? Not that it means more than a dozen clicks a day, but I certainly won’t bother coming to an AP-less Hot Air. Bring on the hate!
ToddW on April 10, 2009 at 8:55 PM
TTheologan
Ahhh, an intellectually superior New Orleanian, let me guess, Lower Garden District, Collesium Square kind of guy
Or are you one of those Bayou home owners pining away for the days of old….
As for Allahpundit, Hotair, MichelleMalkin, EdMorrisey, somehow they will just plow through the day despite your urgent advise.
But just barely….
EricPWJohnson on April 10, 2009 at 8:55 PM
I did not know that about Vitter, thanks for the heads up. Actually I think I do remember hearing about, but forgot.
I did know about Jindal though. In fact, in his original run for Governor, Mayor Nagin (sp?) even endorsed him.
Anyways, like you, I don’t think either politician is in any political trouble.
Daemonocracy on April 10, 2009 at 9:04 PM
Jindal should run in 14 against Landreiu.
Speedwagon82 on April 10, 2009 at 9:13 PM
The “Senators don’t win the Presidency” rule still applies because Obama didn’t run as a Senator. He ran as Black Jesus.
Speedwagon82 on April 10, 2009 at 9:15 PM
As a Louisiana resident, sometimes you have to plug your nose and vote for the least repugnant democrat.
However, I will not pull the lever for Jindal, ever, because of the creationist nonsense he help push through the legislature.
He is a smart, honest Christian… and an able politician, but I draw the line when impressionable children are fed “intelligent design” nonsense.
Gonna’ sit this one out.
astuddis on April 10, 2009 at 9:15 PM
“You guys don’t get it. Jindal and Vitter are friends”
Maybe you didn’t understand my comment. I said Jindal shouldn’t run now and that at some point a Senate seat might be a good idea, better than a national office like President.
As far as I know, Louisiana has more than one Senator. Landrieu (D) is up in 2014. That sounds about right to me.
crosspatch on April 10, 2009 at 9:18 PM
Crosspatch, ALL states have more than 1 senator.
Less than three, too.
astuddis on April 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM
Non-rumor of the day: Jindal wipes the floor with Vitter and then makes him do his laundry for three months.
Glenn Jericho on April 10, 2009 at 9:30 PM
I love it. Let’s find one thing wrong with every conservative politician willing to run and make a stand against them so they can all go the way of Livingston. Let’s do the politicking for the dems. Meanwhile you’ll never see the dems eat their own except for a media sacrifice (a la Blago). I am so tired of the dems winning on this front. They sure do now how to win the incremental battles and just let us do most of the work for them. We’ve helped them so much over the years that with The Precedent now there is no real need for the incremental policy making they’re just going for it. And we have people who are gonna ‘sit out’ because ‘He’s not Perfect‘. whoever He is. It is threads like these that illustrate just how naive conservatives can be in the political world and how in a game of politico the dems have us beat.
nolapol on April 10, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Quote me. Otherwise, what the hell are you talking about?
MadisonConservative on April 10, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Really? I thought it was fiscal irresponsibility that had Republicans spending like Democrats that got us in the minority.
If Vitter was such a friend of conservatives, he would have renounced his sponsorship of nearly $250 million in earmarks on this past omnibus bill while critisizing others for spending. Kinda hard to do that when you’re doing it yourself.
If he doesn’t sponsor or co-sponser another pork project from now on, I’ll change my tune. If he’s going to lead a fiscal responsibility crusade, he should practice what he preaches.
Lay-Z on April 10, 2009 at 10:49 PM
Nolapol,
I hear you, but I cannot forgive the religious indoctrination of young children on the public dime. Vote for who you want… or don’t…your choice.
astuddis on April 11, 2009 at 12:03 AM
If that made no sense to you, you’re even more dense than I thought you were.
flipflop on April 11, 2009 at 12:33 AM
Another clueless person in Louisiana. He didn’t “help push through” anything. He signed a bill the legislature passed. I can guarantee that you didn’t even bother reading the bill, or his actual position on it. You just accept what MSNBC told you about it.
To say you’re a conservative, but you’d vote for a democrat or allow a liberal democrat to beat jindal over this one issue which you don’t even seem to understand jindal’s position on, is ridiculous, and i can’t believe you expect people to believe you.
TTheoLogan on April 11, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Either that or your jokes/insults don’t make sense.
TTheoLogan on April 11, 2009 at 10:14 AM
I will say I used too wide a brush to say that’s why we’re in the minority. It’s certainly part of it.
Again, never mind the fact that he’s one of the most fiscally conservative senators, you’re going to overlook all that and whine that he hasn’t renounced something regarding earmarks when he’s been public about his support for a zillion other fiscally conservative causes, such as pay raises, and his socially conservative and military conservative record.
Seriously, voters like you always find something to whine about and I’d encourage vitter to not even waste his time dealing with you. Every single congressional scorecard places him among the most conservative members of the U.S. senate.
TTheoLogan on April 11, 2009 at 10:21 AM
I prefer sitting governors running for the White House since they have executive experience. However, this would be a marketable increase in total political experience for him if he won. And, of course, should he win the White House would give him great insight as to how Congress works.
Dr. ZhivBlago on April 11, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Reading the article that Allah linked to in the headlines about commenters, it appears we have many defenders on this site. If you want to have fun, read the article.
Allah loves you guys.
Christian Conservative on April 11, 2009 at 12:45 PM
I think the headline under the picture for this article best exemplifies my criticism of DoofPundit. “Too good to check.” Yes, I know it’s often used, but this does a few things:
1.Belie a gross ignorance of Louisiana politics by DoofPundit
2.Belie a gross ignorance of the relationship between Vitter and Jindal by DoofPundit
3.Belie a gross ignorance of Vitter’s base here, and their feelings about him by DoofPundit
4.Remind us all that DoofPundit, yet again, has no idea what he’s talking about and should be replaced(apparently hired/fired is not the right term).
TTheoLogan on April 11, 2009 at 5:41 PM
I think Gov. Jindal’s treating the governorship like a stepping stone would disappoint the Louisianans who elected him. He doesn’t seem to be one who will treat the governorship, the state, or his electorate so lightly.
Kralizec on April 12, 2009 at 2:12 PM
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