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Jindal silent on Vice-President ticket

NEW YORK: Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, apparently short-listed for the Republican Vice-President ticket, refused to spill the beans on what transpired at the weekend retreat with presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, saying there was no “explicit talk” on the issue.

“There was never any explicit talk whatsoever about a shortlist, about Vice-President, any of that,” said Mr. Jindal, the first Indian-American Governor, after spending the weekend at an Arizona ranch where other favourites, including the former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney and Florida Governor Charlie Crist had also been invited. However, the Mr. Jindal said he had several one-on-one moments with Mr. McCain.

Mr. Jindal has been touted as among the favourites to be Mr. McCain’s running mate despite his repeated comments that he was happy with his job. “John and Cindy were very gracious. Not only did we have a chance to talk to him one on one, as well as in a group, we had a chance to visit with the other Senators there, the other business leaders,” said Mr. Jindal.

Journalists had camped outside Mr. McCain’s Sedona ranch to catch a glimpse of the guests invited over to celebrate the Memorial Day weekend amid speculation that it was actually an exercise to choose Mr. McCain’s running mate.

Mr. Jindal said he talked with people on Louisiana’s recovery after Hurricane Katrina wracked the state and he did not know if there would be any further “social-type weekends.”

However, Mr. Jindal said he was planning to meet Mr. McCain again when Mr. McCain stops in Louisiana in two weeks during the campaign trail.

The Washington Times on Saturday endorsed Mr. Jindal as the best man for the Republican ticket. Analysts have said Mr. Jindal could not only provide “diversity” to the ticket, but could also offset the age factor for 72-year-old McCain, who would be oldest first-term President if elected.

Mr. Jindal converted to Roman Catholicism when he was a teenager.

He has a conservative platform, opposing abortion and stem cell research, and advocated teaching of “intelligent design” in schools as alternative theory of evolution. — PTI

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