Jindal takes the lead in Lousiana!

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Who’d have thought an Indian American can do this well in a Southern state, that too in Louisiana of all the places!

New poll shows Jindal taking lead in final weeks of campaign

For the first time since the primary election, a new independent poll shows Republican Bobby Jindal leading Democrat Kathleen Blanco with a little more than two weeks until the runoff election.
The poll, including 600 voters surveyed by Marketing Research Institute, revealed 49 percent of those polled picking Jindal, 38 percent siding with Blanco, and 13 percent remaining undecided. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus four percent.

A spokesman for Blanco’s campaign said “every poll is a snapshot of the electorate on a particular day and time. The objective of this campaign is what voters will say on Election Day.”

The same poll shows Blanco’s favorability rating has dropped from 66 percent two weeks ago to 47 percent this week. Jindal’s has remained relatively constant at 55 percent. Increased finger pointing and allegations of negative campaigning in recent weeks have marked the campaign

“Well, I’m just totally puzzled by the attack ad on TV by my opponent, saying that I have run negative ads,” Blanco said Wednesday. “I have not.”

On Thursday Jindal answered questions from a panel of mayors from across Louisiana in a forum by the Louisiana Municipal Association.

“My message to them will be the message that we’re delivering to every voter in Louisiana, ‘Support Bobby Jindal, because he’s the candidate most likely to bring change,’” Jindal said prior to the forum.

Blanco was absent from the forum because she spent the day campaigning in North Louisiana. Her campaign said she could not attend because of a scheduling conflict.

“I guess that I’m a little disappointed that Blanco’s not here,” said New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.

Nagin, possibly the most coveted public official who has not yet chimed in an endorsement, said his decision could transcend party lines.

“I think this race is bigger than partisan politics, so I’m not saying I am going to cross the line, but I’m definitely open to it,” said Nagin, who supported Randy Ewing in the primary.

Nagin’s endorsement could come as early as next Monday

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This just proves the dominence of diversity... The people think hes the better man for the job, and will vote for him, and do not have any bias as to the color of his skin on his ethnicity. Too bad in some other countries, such as thing would never be possible.

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Go Bobby go!

I'm a little confused as to why people of Pakistani origin are protesting about Jindal?

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Interesting to note that Louisian happens to be one of "red-neck" states, and a brown getting a lead. Another "interesting" thing is that he changed his religion, not Hindu anymore, I think he is one of Catholics or Baptists.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by karina: *
Go Bobby go!

I'm a little confused as to why people of Pakistani origin are protesting about Jindal?
[/QUOTE]

where did you see protest?

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^ I read a story too of some ass ociation called pakistan american council or foundation or something raised a lot of money and plastered the streets in support of Blanco. flyers apparently were sent out that an Indian should not be allowed to take such high office and if it happened it would weaken pakistan. Same article also said in one week or event something like 50K was raised by this anti Jindal campaign. Blanco denied having anything to do with this group.

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^ that is useless and pathetic. do you have link to the news/articles?

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Tom, you must have seen Indians and Pakistanis abroad working together, sometimes forming an alliance, sort of. Other people find it hard to imagine, that the people from two enemy countries can work together abroad, and have so much in similar. I would want this guy to win, provided he is smart and capable for the job, perhaps he can work for the interests of the collective desi community. I dont think the Pakistanis would object to his holding the office, its in their interests.

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=269207

Pak-Americans oppose Jindal
CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 06, 2003 12:00:56 AM ]
WASHINGTON: Carrying domestic and regional vitriol overseas, Pakistani-Americans have jumped into the US gubernatorial fray with gusto by opposing Indian-American Republican candidate Bobby Jindal because “he could be a future threat for Pakistani interests in the US.”

Instead, the Pakistani American Congress (PAC) and an organisation calling itself “Patriot Muslim Americans (PMA)” have asked its supporters to back Jindal’s Democratic opponent Kathleen Blanco, “a friend of our cause,” in the November 15 election for the governorship of Louisiana.

“Blanco is a close friend of Pakistani community. She understands our issues and supports our cause. She is in favour of immigrants, opposes discrimination in any form or fashion, is against profiling on the basis of religion, looks or ethnicity,” PAC president, M Ashraf Abbasi, said in an appeal to supporters.

Abbasi described Jindal, an American of Indian origin who is himself son of first generation immigrants, as “an Indian… a highly prejudiced person.”

Abbasi claimed that the Pakistani-American Congress had raised $50,000 for Blanco’s campaign in Lake Charles “in just one hour,” according to an account on a Pakistani website.

Pakistani-Americans had put up 15,000 highway signs in the south and set up calling booths in four major cities, he added.

“It is hard doing all this in the state of fasting but we are doing it as a religious duty as well,” Abbasi was quoted as saying.

Pakistani American Congress describes itself as a nation-wide non-profit, non-religious and non-partisan umbrella entity of Pakistani-Americans and Pakistani organisations in North America.

Meanwhile, Blanco’s campaign seemed oblivious to PAC’s “religious duty.” Cleze Mesidor, a spokesperson for the Louisiana Democratic Party, said that they had no record of PAC’s activities for the Blanco campaign and they would like to keep such religious duty out of the campaign.

Jindal, although widely described as a Christian conservative, has no record of espousing anti-immigration, anti-Pakistani, or anti-Muslim causes.

In fact, Pakistan or India is not even on the radar screen in an election that is being fought mostly on issues pertaining to Louisiana, a state that has only a smattering of people from the sub-continent.

However, the fact that Jindal’s Indian background has attracted so much attention and he is seen as a rising start in the Republican Party (especially if he wins) appears to have galvanised Pakistani-Americans into opposing him.

“Nowhere has the Indian-American community said that Bobby’s election will help US-India relations,” a Washington-based Indian-American political activist said in an e-mail to this correspondent. “But now the Pakistanis are bringing US-South Asia relations to Louisiana… it’s incredible and stupid.”

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Running against the seat is Bobby Jindall, an Indian, who, in the words of M. Ashraf Abbasi, president PAC, “is a highly prejudiced person, who could be a future threat for Pakistani interests in the United States.”

http://www.paknews.com/specialNews.php?id=2400&date1=2003-11-05

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over the years i care less about leadership in the Southern states as they are overwhelmingly Conservatives - people have eye on this race not because there is an Indian-American leading in polls - the reason is governorship of Louisiana has been dominated by white males in the past - and this time around two opponents are one female and an immigrant - so this sets up a good competition - and people in Louisiana are looking forward for new leadership.

at the moment the polls are suggesting Bobby is leading - he has got the endorsement from Afro-American unions which is quite a shock as Democracts have always got endorsement from Afro-American unions but watch out for Kathleen Blanco ay - as a Democract i wish she wins so at least we Democracts will have a better shot at Bush in 04 in the south - last election Al-Gore and Democracts were completely shut out in the Southern States - if Kathleen Blanco wins the Governorship - it will be a good start for us - and i reckon whoever is going to be the final Presidential nominee from the Democracts will have a great advantage in 04 against Bush in the Southern States.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *
Tom, you must have seen Indians and Pakistanis abroad working together, sometimes forming an alliance, sort of. Other people find it hard to imagine, that the people from two enemy countries can work together abroad, and have so much in similar. I would want this guy to win, provided he is smart and capable for the job, perhaps he can work for the interests of the collective desi community. I dont think the Pakistanis would object to his holding the office, its in their interests.
[/QUOTE]

Ofcourse. But as the number Indians and pakistanis increase we have to unfortunately deal with some group here and there try some stunt such as this.

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Pakistanis oppose Indian candidate

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE 
NEW ORLEANS — Pakistani-Americans are working to make sure that Bobby Jindal, an American of Indian descent running for Louisiana governor, is not elected to office, the head of a Pakistani group said yesterday. 
With less than a week until the vote Saturday, Mr. Jindal, 32, a Republican, and Democratic Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco, 60, are even in the polls. 
But the head of the Pakistani American Congress, Ashraf Abbasi, said his members will unite to prevent a Jindal win and endorse Mrs. Blanco. 
"When Jindal declared his candidacy, the first remark he made was derogatory to Muslims. He said, 'I am not a Muslim,' " said Mr. Abbasi, a Texas businessman originally from Pakistan. "He was saying that he qualified for the job because he's not a Muslim. He looked like the brown guy from the Indian subcontinent, so he wanted to tell his white club he's not a Muslim." 
The Pakistani-American Business Association of Louisiana raised about $50,000 for Mrs. Blanco at a fund-raiser on Oct. 21.

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20031109-115504-8846r.htm

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^^ The question is did he make those remarks? If he did I can see how soem people got their feelings hurt. In bigger scheme of things it does not matter. However, you have to look at Why did he make those remarks? Do you really have to be a non-mulsim to advance in this country (now-a-days)? I do not believe that, but Mr. Jindal certainly did, otherwise he would not have made those remarks.

P.S. I can care less about Louisiana politics...They can elect a road kill for all i care.

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I dont think Jindal said that, Mr. Abbasi sounds like a LIAR.

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Just because you “THINK” he didn’t say, you say that Abbasi is a “Liar”. :hehe:

Anyway, I haven’t followed at all what happened from the beginning in this race. If Abbasi and co are opposing him for his views (on issues like immigration etc as he claims) then that would be a valid point, but just to oppose him on the basis of his origin would be shame/pathetic.

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Jindal’s heritage touches nerve
The Associated Press
Posted on November 10, 2003
Republican Bobby Jindal’s campaign to become the first Indian-American governor in American history has touched a nerve with some Pakistani-Americans, who are lining up to support Democrat Kathleen Blanco of Lafayette in Saturday’s runoff.

The support culminated during an Oct. 21 fund-raiser for Blanco in Lake Charles sponsored by the Pakistani-American Business Association of Louisiana, which gave Blanco $50,000 for her campaign.

One attendee said Jindal’s Indian heritage has some Pakistanis worried, given the decades of animosity between India and Pakistan.

“I think it’s a kind of unforeseen fear that if Bobby Jindal gets elected he might push things that are against the Pakistani interest,” said Ashraf Abbasi of Port Arthur, Texas, president of the Pakistani-American Congress, an umbrella organization for Pakistani-American groups.

Blanco spokesman Bob Mann confirmed that she attended the fund-raiser but could not verify how much was collected.

Mann said the subject of Indo-Pakistan relations never surfaced. “What I was told is it was a social function in which people came and mingled and spoke with her.”

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/html/07920B90-A1E5-4194-AD7A-B78E4F808678.shtml

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Is there any other newspaper/website remaining talking about the same issue? :hoonh:

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Changez_like: *
Just because you "THINK" he didn't say, you say that Abbasi is a "Liar".

[/QUOTE]

CL - I said Sounds like. Mr. Abbasi has done nothing to prove his allegations and that makes him sounding like a LIAR.

Even If Mr. Jindal said 'I am not a Muslim', how come it became offensive to Muslims ?

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Asif_k: *

CL - I said Sounds like. Mr. Abbasi has done nothing to prove his allegations and that makes him sounding like a LIAR.

Even If Mr. Jindal said 'I am not a Muslim', how come it became offensive to Muslims ?
[/QUOTE]

Asif just saying that I am not a muslim is not offensive, but to say it to distance your self from mulsims and try to convince people to vot for him becasue he is not Muslim is offensive.