Fundraising under way

• By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jun 13, 2009 - Page: 1A

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Efforts are under way to raise money nationally for a Bobby Jindal presidential campaign.

“We will be sending out mailers, requests, hosting fundraisers,” Dan Kyle, treasurer of the Republican Party of Louisiana, said Friday.

A number of other prominent names are involved, including Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Tim Barfield, U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, former state Rep. Woody Jenkins and Ram Bhatia, who is first lady Supriya Jindal’s uncle.

Kyle said the governor is not yet participating.

“I believe he is aware of it. I have not personally talked to him about it,” he said.

The governor’s press secretary, Kyle Plotkin, said Jindal asked Bhatia to sever ties with the fundraising efforts and he agreed to do so.

“The governor does not support this effort. This is a distraction from the critical issues that we face and the governor will not be involved in any capacity,” Plotkin said in an e-mail statement.

Jindal for President Draft Council Inc. filed corporation papers last month with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office.

Three officers are listed: Southern University physics professor Rama Mohanty, former state Sen. Tom Schedler and Kyle.

Kyle said 150 people signed on to support the effort.

He said Jindal should be president at some point although the group is not putting a date on its efforts.

The next presidential election is in 2012.

Kyle said organization papers will be filed in other states.