Jindal’s political strategist joins Cassidy’s re-election campaign
U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, has added Gov. Bobby Jindal’s chief political strategist to lead his 2012 re-election campaign in a move that observers argue points to a possible 2014 challenge of U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.
Former Jindal chief of staff, Timmy Teepell, now a partner in the OnMessage national political consulting firm, also is from Baton Rouge. Teepell said he is joining on because he is good friends with Cassidy and his wife, Laura.
Cassidy thus far has no announced opposition for re-election this fall.
Teepell emphasized that his addition has nothing to do with any potential 2014 Senate race. “I’m sure we’ll have people looking at the (re-election) race, and I’m sure there will be opponents,” Teepell said Wednesday. “I’m completely, 100 percent focused on 2012.”
Kirby Goidel, an LSU mass communications and political science expert, said, “There is good reason to speculate” when Cassidy brings on Teepell when he is not yet facing “any significant opposition.”
“I would assume there are larger ambitions here,” Goidel said.
Teepell helping Cassidy can also help squelch talk of Jindal running against Landrieu. While challenging Landrieu seems more likely for Cassidy, Goidel said the Baton Rouge congressman could also look at running for governor in 2015, when Jindal is term limited.
Cassidy’s press secretary, John Cummins, reiterated Cassidy is only focused on 2012, while noting “2014 is a long way off.”
Cummins, who said Cassidy was too busy for an interview Wednesday, said the congressman also will use Teepell’s campaign and media strategies to reach out to new constituents in the Houma and River Parishes areas who fell under Cassidy’s representation through redistricting last year.
Two years ago Cassidy easily swamped Democratic contender Merritt McDonald Sr., a retired engineer, to win a second term in the U.S. House. McDonald raised no money and did little campaigning. Cassidy took in 66 percent of the votes cast.
In 2008, Landrieu beat Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy with 52 percent of the vote against Kennedy’s 46 percent.
Landrieu is just one of two Democrats in the nine-person Louisiana congressional delegation along with U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond of New Orleans.
Teepell and OnMessage also worked on the failed presidential campaign for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who was endorsed by Jindal.