Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has waded into his state’s contentious U.S. Senate race, endorsing Republican John Kennedy over Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu.
Kennedy’s campaign announced the news Tuesday evening and said TV ads will be running statewide on Wednesday touting the governor’s endorsement.
The announcement comes a year and a day after Jindal, then 36, captured the Louisiana governor’s office to become the country’s youngest governor. The former U.S. House member made the most of that connection in the advertisement, reminding voters that “a year ago, some people said Louisiana would never change.”
“But we elected a completely different kind of government, and things did change,” Jindal says in the advertisement, before going on to praise Kennedy as a “fresh start.”
Jindal was also a rumored top-tier running mate choice for GOP presidential nominee John McCain (R-Ariz.) before the nod went to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Landrieu remains the favored candidate to win the Louisiana Senate race — although polls have swung widely, most show her leading Kennedy.
–J. Taylor Rushing