Washington, Oct 07: Republican Bobby Jindal may make history if he wins 65 per cent of the white votes in Louisiana's runoff election on November 15, a media research and polling firm has said. The Southern Media and Opinion Research, a Baton Rouge Polling Firm said it would also be a historical first if his opponent Lt Governor Kathleen Blanco a Cajun, a native of the former French colony, wins.

Jindal led the field by appealing to Conservative rural whites as well as urban moderates impressed by his resume, the firm said, adding he gained almost no black votes in a state where they make up 30 per cent of the electorate.

He faces a tough runoff and needs at least 65 per cent of the white vote to win.
Jindal, a Rhodes scholar, whose Indian descent was cited as a major disadvantage, polled 33 per cent votes way ahead of his Democratic rival Blanco who picked up 18 per cent of the votes. A run-off election on Novemebr 15 between the two will finally decide if he makes it to the Governor's mansion.

Fresh off his win in the primaries on Sunday, the 32-year-old Jindal emphasised his strong ties with US President George W Bush saying "it will help to have a governor with strong ties to the White House."

Bureau Report