Jindal vows to continue backing Perry
Gov. Bobby Jindal pledged Wednesday to continue to back Rick Perry’s White House aspirations despite the Texas governor’s distant finish in the Iowa Republican Caucus.
“I’m proud to call Rick Perry a friend. I’m proud to have endorsed him months ago, and I continue to support him.,” Jindal said during a news conference at the Governor’s Mansion.
The governor said he will not be a fair-weather friend.
Jindal said the nomination process is unpredictable, with someone new in first place every week.
Hours earlier, Perry vowed via Twitter to soldier on with his bid for the Republican presidential nomination despite finishing fifth in the caucus.
He posted a picture of himself in jogging clothes and giving a thumbs up sign. The posting surprised many given that Perry initially reacted to the returns by questioning whether his campaign would continue and vowing to retreat home to Texas.
“And the next leg of the marathon is the Palmetto State … Here we come South Carolina!!!” Perry tweeted.
Jindal backed Perry’s bid for the GOP presidential nomination in September. Since then, Perry has stumbled in debates and on the campaign trail. During one campaign appearance, Jindal corrected Perry on a point in the Texas governor’s own platform.
Jindal has more than neighborly ties to Perry. OnMessage Inc. is doing consulting work for the Perry campaign. Jindal’s former chief of staff and close friend, Timmy Teepell, is a partner in OnMessage.
The Iowa Caucus officially kicked off the scramble for the GOP nomination. Eight votes separated the top finishers, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. In third and fourth were U.S. Rep. Ron Paul and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Drawing 6,531 fewer votes than Perry in the Iowa caucus, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann suspended her campaign Wednesday.
Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer finished last in the Iowa Republican presidential caucus Tuesday, behind Hermain Cain, who no longer is seeking the GOP nomination. Roemer kept his sense of humor about his finish.
Roemer tweeted as the returns were reported. He ended up with less than 50 votes.
“I almost have enough votes in Iowa to start a bowling league,” he tweeted at one point.
Another tweet: “BREAKING: Somebody who died in 1987 is beating me in Iowa.”
By the end of the night, Roemer’s tone was less humorous.
“I’ll take a collective Twitter hug,” he wrote.
Next up is Tuesday’s New Hampshire caucus followed by the Jan. 21 South Carolina primary.
Roemer is focusing heavily on New Hampshire. Perry appears to be concentrating on South Carolina, which often has an uncanny accuracy in foreshadowing who nabs the GOP nomination.
Romney is expected to clinch New Hampshire while South Carolina could give Perry the momentum he needs.
Jindal said Wednesday afternoon that he had not spoken to Perry. He spent two days with the Texas governor and his wife in Iowa leading up to the caucus.
Jindal was on a plane returning to Louisiana when the results came in.
Jindal said he expects to talk to Perry soon but he said he will not be offering any advice.
“He doesn’t need advice from me in terms of how to run his campaign. He’s got a lot of folks around him counseling him what to do. I’m just proud to call him a friend,” Jindal said.