http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/gov_bobby_jindals_backers_form.html
Gov. Bobby Jindal's backers form federal PAC to tout presidential run
by Bill Barrow, The Times-Picayune
Friday June 12, 2009, 10:03 PM
BATON ROUGE -- A group of Gov. Bobby Jindal's political supporters, including an uncle of the governor's wife, Supriya Jindal, are forming a federal political action committee to support a presidential run by the 38-year-old Republican.
The governor is aware of the operations of Jindal For President Draft Council Inc., but is not directly involved, according to organizers Rama Mohanty, a Southern University professor, and Dan Kyle, a former legislative auditor and failed GOP candidate in several bids for office.
"They are supportive of what we are doing, " Mohanty said of the Jindal team.
Jindal spokesman Kyle Plotkin said, "The governor has said that he has the job he wants, and he hopes to be re-elected (in 2011) to continue to move Louisiana forward."
He added, "It's flattering, but the governor does not support this effort. This is a distraction from the critical issues that we face, and the governor will not be involved in any capacity."
Kyle, the group's treasurer, said the aim is to establish field operations and hold fundraisers in every state.
The nation's youngest governor, Jindal has traveled extensively since taking office in January 2008, speaking or raising money in more than a dozen states and the District of Columbia. His itinerary has included Iowa, which hosts the first presidential caucus.
Though he continues to be viewed as a potential national player, polls and media coverage suggest that Jindal's star power has waned since the bad reviews of his official Republican response to President Barack Obama's first congressional address in February.
Kyle said he still believes Jindal will seek the presidency.
Gov. Bobby Jindal's backers form federal PAC to tout presidential run
by Bill Barrow, The Times-Picayune
Friday June 12, 2009, 10:03 PM
BATON ROUGE -- A group of Gov. Bobby Jindal's political supporters, including an uncle of the governor's wife, Supriya Jindal, are forming a federal political action committee to support a presidential run by the 38-year-old Republican.
The governor is aware of the operations of Jindal For President Draft Council Inc., but is not directly involved, according to organizers Rama Mohanty, a Southern University professor, and Dan Kyle, a former legislative auditor and failed GOP candidate in several bids for office.
"They are supportive of what we are doing, " Mohanty said of the Jindal team.
Jindal spokesman Kyle Plotkin said, "The governor has said that he has the job he wants, and he hopes to be re-elected (in 2011) to continue to move Louisiana forward."
He added, "It's flattering, but the governor does not support this effort. This is a distraction from the critical issues that we face, and the governor will not be involved in any capacity."
Kyle, the group's treasurer, said the aim is to establish field operations and hold fundraisers in every state.
The nation's youngest governor, Jindal has traveled extensively since taking office in January 2008, speaking or raising money in more than a dozen states and the District of Columbia. His itinerary has included Iowa, which hosts the first presidential caucus.
Though he continues to be viewed as a potential national player, polls and media coverage suggest that Jindal's star power has waned since the bad reviews of his official Republican response to President Barack Obama's first congressional address in February.
Kyle said he still believes Jindal will seek the presidency.