In a new National Journal story, Gov. Bobby Jindal touches on his rocky relationship with fellow Republican and U.S. Sen. David Vitter, who is seeking to succeed the term-limited Jindal as Louisiana’s next governor.
The magazine reports that in a recent interview with the governor, Jindal offered a rare public acknowledgement of the root of his feud with Vitter. After first defending himself from criticism over Louisiana’s budget shortfall, the magazine reports Jindal then says of Vitter, “If you turn [your recorder] off, I’ll tell you what I really think about him.”
The pair’s poor relationship dates back to 2007, when Jindal was in the midst of his second run for governor and Vitter was caught up in the D.C. Madam prostitution scandal. Jindal made no effort to defend Vitter then, and three years later, the rift was cemented when Jindal declined to endorse Vitter during his 2010 bid to keep his Senate seat.
Jindal tells the magazine, “I made it very clear we wouldn’t endorse. I didn’t endorse the senator the last time he ran, and he was upset about that. He was publicly upset about that.”
Vitter’s office responded with a statement that dismissed the importance of the 2010 non-endorsement and made what appears to be a swipe at Jindal’s long-standing national political aspirations.
“As I’ve clearly said, this will be my last political job—elected or appointed—period,” Vitter says in the statement to the magazine. “I’m running for governor to confront Louisiana’s biggest challenges head-on, not to avoid them or play politics with them. I’m running to build a brighter future for Louisiana, and any previous races aren’t particularly important.”
Regardless of the origins of the feud, the National Journal feature says it’s hurting both of the politicians’ careers.
“Jindal and Vitter have every reason to be friends. Jindal would love to have Vitter praise him as he looks to make the leap from Louisiana governor’s mansion to the White House. Vitter, meanwhile, would benefit from Jindal’s support as he campaigns to take the outgoing governor’s job,” reads the feature. “But none of that is happening. Instead, years’ worth of bad blood between the two is spilling out, hurting both Republicans as they attempt to leap to higher office.”
