Now that Gov. Bobby Jindal has made his candidacy for president official, he’ll be looking to distinguish himself in a field packed with many better known Republican rivals.
As The Associated Press reports, it’s a long shot effort for an accomplished but overshadowed governor. His prospects will depend in large measure on his continued courtship of evangelical voters, but several other contenders also are determined to win over that group.
The 44-year-old two-term governor is hosting a kickoff rally this afternoon in Kenner. Aides discussed Jindal’s plans to focus on social conservatives, as he has done for months in extensive travels, and highlight his reputation as a policy-seasoned leader.
Jindal intends to present himself as “the youngest candidate with the longest resume,” citing an extensive background in public policy and government, strategist Curt Anderson says. Timmy Teepell, who was Jindal’s chief of staff and ran his two races for governor, will be his campaign manager.
An Oxford-educated son of Indian immigrants, Jindal can point to a political career filled with many unexpected achievements. He talked a governor into appointing him state health secretary when Jindal was just 24, with little background in either health management or government. Jindal won election to Congress at 32 and became governor four years later.
Jindal is the 13th major Republican candidate to announce a run, with more still expected to announce. He is competing with several contenders, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who also are trying to appeal to the same pool of evangelical voters.
Jindal has worked to showcase more of the policy wonk reputation that got him elected governor, rather than focusing on cultural issues. He has drawn distinctions from other GOP contenders by noting he has published detailed plans on health care, defense, education and energy policy.
He has suggested governors are better equipped to become president because they have run state governments, balanced budgets and implemented policy. That’s an argument, however, that other White House hopefuls are also making, or can make, including Govs. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, Chris Christie of New Jersey and John Kasich of Ohio, as well as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
Read the full story. Also, Politico has a rundown of the staffers and power players involved in Jindal’s campaign.
