McCain To Meet With Jindal
by Chris Cillizza (excerpt)

WASHINGTON POST

John McCain will huddle with vice presidential aspirant Bobby Jindal during a trip to New Orleans later this week, sources close to the campaign confirm to The Fix.

McCain's trip to Louisiana on Wednesday was the cause of much head scratching in the political world as it was not in keeping with a week of planned stops in battleground states.

But, the meeting with Jindal, who has been the state's governor since 2007, suggests that McCain himself is deeply engaged in the process of picking his second-in-command and that the youthful Jindal is under serious consideration.

(Worth noting: Conservative columnist Bob Novak is reporting -- and Matt Drudge is touting -- that McCain will make his vice presidential pick known by the end of this week.)

Jindal, at 37, is widely regarded within the Republican party nationally as one of its rising stars and has been touted as the best choice for vice president by a variety of party luminaries ranging from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) to talk radio celebrity Rush Limbaugh.

A Jindal pick is the definition of unorthodox. But, in an election cycle where the Republican brand is as badly tarnished as at any time in recent memory, a "Hail Mary" (or "Hail Bobby") may be warranted.

Picture: Jindal and McCain adviser former Gov. Buddy Roemer at McCain rally in BR.