INDReporter

As Perry dims, Jindal shines

by Walter Pierce

Jindal stumped in Iowa with Perry this week, and where Perry committed his usual gaffes, Jindal came off as smart and in command of information.

The Times-Picayune's Stephanie Grace offered the best theory this week for why Gov. Bobby Jindal has kept his wagon hitched to hobbled horse Rick Perry, the Texas governor who has stumbled and bumbled his way from atop the polls two months ago to fourth or lower in most recent gauges: Perry makes Jindal look good.

Jindal threw his support behind Perry almost immediately after the three-term Texas governor jumped into the race in August. Perry initially shot to the front of the field among the GOP candidates, but disastrous debate performances this fall have, barring a miracle in early primaries early next year, doomed his candidacy.

Enter Bobby Jindal.

Jindal stumped in Iowa with Perry this week, and where Perry committed his usual gaffes like forgetting components of his own tax plan, Jindal came off as smart and in command of information. One other upside, Grace notes: The king makers in the GOP are watching the nominating process closely; Jindal's performance in Iowa, especially in contrast to his fellow governor, can only help in four years when he turns his gaze to a bigger stage.

Read Grace's full column here.