The Definitive H&H Bobby Jindal Scouting Report
Geaux Bobby: Jindal Joins the 2016 GOP Race
What he’s got: Extensive public-service résumé that includes executive, legislative, administrative, and policy-making experience (as governor of and congressman from Louisiana, secretary of the state’s health-care and hospital system, and assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services); expertise beyond health care and across the spectrum of domestic policy; gold-plated academic credentials from Brown and Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, reflecting arguably the biggest brain among the GOP 2016ers; deeply held Christian faith and unwavering adherence to social-conservative principles; folksy, plainspoken, cut-to-the-chase demeanor; when he hits it, a great stump speech; a winning family immigrant story.
What he lacks: National name recognition; national-security credentials; demonstrated national fundraising capacity; national or early-state polling strength; strong, or even passable, approval ratings in Louisiana (in recent surveys, they’ve ranged from 27 to 32 percent); an unambiguous record of accomplishment in his state; ability to temper tendencies towards incendiary rhetoric and tendentious claims; consistent willingness to allow his appealing wonkiness to show through; consistent sunny demeanor, inspirational tone, or uplifting substance on the hustings; a clear and plausible path to the nomination.