Jindal deflects VP talk

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) rejected any talk that he was angling for the job of Sen. John McCain's (Ariz.) running mate while making the rounds on Capitol Hill Wednesday.

Jindal was more interested in pressing Congress for more money to rebuild the Gulf Coast. When asked if he would accept a position as McCain’s vice president, the 37-year-old Jindal said: "I've got the job that I want."

{mosads}Jindal, an Indian-American, has been touted as someone who could balance out the ticket of the 71-year-old McCain, who does not have chief executive experience.

Jindal was invited to McCain’s Sedona, Ariz., home in May, along with ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R), fueling speculation that he’s near the top of the list.

A converted Catholic, he has strong support among conservatives who have been wary of McCain's candidacy. By selecting an Indian-American, McCain could offset the history-setting candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who would be the country's first black president. But Jindal has limited experience and was elected in 2007 as governor after serving just one full term in the House.

"It's very flattering that my name makes those lists, but I've told the people of Louisiana that this is a historic time for our state, and we've got to right now focus on rebuilding Louisiana better than we were even before the storm," he said, referring to the 2005 hurricanes Katrina and Rita. "It would be presumptuous for me to turn down something I have not been offered. I don't think I'll be offered. I think he's got many other great choices he can make.

"I'm focused on being governor of Louisiana. It's the job that I want. And we have a lot more work to do in our state," Jindal said.

Jindal spent the day on Capitol Hill meeting with the Louisiana congressional delegation to "speak with one voice" about the need for Congress and the White House to approve billions of dollars in new reconstruction for the Gulf Coast in the emergency supplemental spending bill awaiting House action. He wants a $5 billion reconstruction package that would help restore hurricane-protection levees, as well as provisions to save the state $200 million by lessening its cost-sharing with the federal government and to give his state up to 30 years to pay back its share to the government.

"We think this is a reasonable request," Jindal said. "We're simply saying, ‘Give us the same flexibility you've given to other states.’"