During a visit to the newspaper's Washington bureau, Norquist offered a generally negative critique of Obama on economic policy and other issues, the newspaper said, and compared Obama to the 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry, calling him "John Kerry with a tan."

Norquist -- a significant figure in the tax-cut, small government lobby -- had kind words for Republican Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, praising Jindal for tax-cut and ethics reform legislation. Norquist said if presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain chooses Jindal as his running mate, it would result in large numbers of campaign donations for Republicans in general from Americans of East Indian descent.

Jindal was born in Baton Rouge, La., to Indian parents who were in the United States to attend college.

Norquist also had praise for Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's record on taxes -- except for Pawlenty's approval of a higher state tax on cigarettes, the newspaper said.