Jindal speaks at Iowa banquet

• By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Nov 24, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Louisiana voters see Bobby Jindal as governor, but some voters in a state with a big say in who leads the nation see him as presidential material.

Despite repeated denials that he is interested in the top job, nearly a thousand conservatives ventured out on a cold night after a day of snow flurries to hear what Jindal had to say at the Iowa Family Policy Center’s annual banquet.

Dinner was cold and the babies in the audience were restless by the time the Family Policy Center president, Chuck Hurley,
introduced Jindal on Saturday as a “nationwide leader,” a mantle the 37-year-old governor tried to shrug off by encouraging the audience to embrace President-elect Barack Obama.

It was Hurley’s backing that launched the presidential bid of another governor from a small, Deep South state: Mike Huckabee of Arkansas. Winning the Iowa caucus in January turned Huckabee into one of the major contenders for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination that U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona eventually won.

Still stinging from the GOP’s selection of McCain, a moderate presidential nominee, the Family Policy Center supporters crowded into the Sheraton ballroom here to learn more about a governor who is the talk of conservative radio and FOX News.

Dale and Claudia Springer of Newton, Iowa brought their children — Ben, 13, and 12-year-old Nick — to the banquet.

“We think we’re going to be picking our next president,” Claudia Springer said before the speech. The Springers said they hoped to hear about “family values” from Jindal.

The Family Policy Center opposes gay marriage and abortion. Their members also wanted to hear Jindal’s thoughts on the Wall Street bailout, government spending and the U.S. Constitution.

Jindal granted only part of their wishes. He talked about finances, but he steered clear of abortion and the definition of marriage.
Jindal insisted he was there to talk about culture and not politics. He shied away from the speculation that he traveled to Iowa because of the pivotal role the state plays in the presidential race.

Harvey Zehr of Urbandale, Iowa, described his attendance at the banquet in personal-ad terms.

“I’m a conservative and I’m looking for a conservative,” he said.

Zehr said he would like to see Jindal run for president once he adds a little more experience to his résumé. Jindal is less than a year into his first term as governor.

“Jindal is definitely the draw. I wouldn’t be here without Jindal. There’s good football games on,” Zehr said.