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Bobby Jindal's Rise
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Race
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Contributor | User 13 |
Last Edited | User 13 Oct 10, 2003 01:14pm |
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Category | Opinion |
News Date | Friday, October 10, 2003 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
Description | California isn't the only state with an interesting governor's race this year. Republican Bobby Jindal, the son of immigrants from India who placed first in Louisiana's all-party primary for governor Saturday, was so unknown in the state that he wasn't even included in the first statewide poll on the race last January. But the former Rhodes Scholar will now face a runoff on Nov. 15 against Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat. If he wins, Republicans will have not only a bright new star on the national stage but a powerful symbol of their efforts at ethnic outreach.
The 32-year-old Mr. Jindal he had already impressed many in the state's elites with his intelligence and administrative ability. He became the head of the state's health-care system at age 24, director of the Breaux-Thomas national commission on Medicare at 26, president of the University of Louisiana system at 27, and a top adviser on health policy to President Bush at 29.
Former congressman Bob Livingston calls Mr. Jindal "an amazing young man." He is the rare policy wonk who can easily make the transition into politics. In his first month after he announced, he raised $538,000, he appeared constantly on talk radio shows touting his conservative agenda, and he steadily rose in the polls to eclipse all other Republicans. He won 33% in Saturday's primary, with Ms. Blanco finishing second with 18%.
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