McCain Looking at Jindal for VP

According to Bill Kristol in the New York Times, John McCain is looking hard at Bobby Jindal, the newly elected GOP governor of Louisiana, as a Veep choice:

That reversal of a three-point McCain lead to a six-point deficit for the McCain ticket suggests what might happen (a) when the Democrats unite, and (b) if McCain were to choose a conventional running mate, who, as it were, reinforced the Republican brand for the ticket. As the McCain aide put it, this is what will happen if we run a traditional campaign; our numbers will gradually regress toward the (losing) generic Republican number.

Maybe that’s why, in separate conversations last week, no fewer than four McCain staffers and advisers mentioned as a possible vice-presidential pick the 36-year-old Louisiana governor, Bobby Jindal. They’re tempted by the idea of picking someone so young, with real accomplishments and a strong reformist streak.

It might also be a way to confront the issue of McCain’s age (71), which private polls and focus groups suggest could be a real problem. A Jindal pick would implicitly acknowledge the questions and raise the ante. The message would be: “You want generational change? You can get it with McCain-Jindal — without risking a liberal and inexperienced Obama as commander in chief.” I would add that it was after McCain spent considerable time with Jindal in New Orleans recently, and reportedly found him, as he has before, personally engaging and intellectually impressive, that the campaign’s informal name-dropping of Jindal began.

For Jindal and Louisiana's sake, I hope he doesn't take the VP nomination. That state is badly screwed up and Jindal is a sharp guy who has the ability to make real progress in fixing it. As VP he'd just be a footnote until it came his turn to run for president, but as governor he can make real progress right now, and Lord knows that Louisiana needs it.

Stay in Louisiana, Governor, where you're really needed. Your time in the national spotlight will come.