McCain Veep Pick: Will it be Jindal?

By Michael J.W. Stickings

It is being reported, by no less a right-wing authority than Bob Novak, that McCain will announce his veep pick this week, essentially to steal some of Obama's thunder -- and to attract some of the media attention that is now so focused on Obama and his overseas trip. It could be Romney... or Giuliani... or Pawlenty... or Crist...

But how about Jindal? As WaPo's Chris Cillizza is reporting, McCain is set to head down to Louisiana this week to meet with the governor and GOP rising star.

Cillizza notes that a Jindal pick would be "unorthodox" and risky, but it certainly helps that Jindal has the backing of such right-wing luminaries as Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh.

McCain could do with some of that backing himself, after all.

Not that I want McCain to benefit from his veep pick, of course, but I do think Jindal is one of the best options. He lacks experience -- at 37, he's much younger than Obama -- but he would bring the excitement factor... and, given how unexciting the candidate, the campaign, and the party are, that would be no small thing. And it could, I think, put pressure on Obama to pick a similarly exciting running mate (but one with significantly more experience -- Hillary?).

Or is Jindal really just Dan Quayle Part Deux?

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Update: The Politico's Jonathan Martin is reporting that McCain will likely hold off on announcing his pick.