Jindal: No run for U.S. Senate in 2010

The New Orleans Times-Picayune is spilling cold water on a report that Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal would run for the U.S. Senate in 2010:

New York Magazine journalist John Heilemann mentions the rumor about Jindal during an appearance as a panelist [Sunday] on The Chris Matthews Show, according to the media industry blog TVNewser, which obtained a transcript of the recorded program in advance of this morning’s broadcast.

“I was down in New Orleans, and I heard a great rumor that Bobby Jindal, who we were just talking about as a potential presidential candidate for the Republican party, is thinking about giving up the governorship and running for Senate against David Vitter, or for Vitter’s seat if Vitter doesn’t run,” Heilemann said, according to the blog site.

Vitter, also a Republican, has been raising money for his re-election campaign for a second term. Revelations about his relations with prostitutes have marred his reputation and led to speculation that he might be vulnerable to challenges from Democrats and Republicans in the 2010 race.

Jindal spokeswoman Melissa Sellers said there is “no truth” to the rumor and that Jindal is running for re-election as governor in 2011.

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