INDReporter

Jindal: 'emphatically no' on Senate bid

by Walter Pierce

Despite consistent speculation about his interest, Gov. Bobby Jindal said he has no plans to run against Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu next year.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Despite consistent speculation about his interest, Gov. Bobby Jindal said he has no plans to run against Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu next year.

The Republican governor offered a definitive rejection of the idea that he wanted to return to Congress, saying, "Absolutely not, emphatically no."

He went on to repeat his disinterest five more times, saying, "I will not be a candidate for the United States Senate."

Landrieu is in her third term and is considered vulnerable because she is a Democrat in a state that tends to vote Republican in national elections. She has attracted two GOP challengers: U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, a Baton Rouge doctor, and Rob Maness, a retired Air Force colonel from Madisonville.

The election will be held in November 2014.