Jindal aide hints at presidential bid

BATON ROUGE, La., Dec. 26 (UPI) -- A senior aide to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says the political newcomer could focus on a U.S. presidential bid if conditions are right.

The unidentified Jindal aide said any potential White House bid by the 37-year-old politician would be based on how U.S. President-elect Barack Obama did during his first two years as head of state, Politico said Thursday.

"Tell me where Obama is sitting at the end of 2010," the aide said. "Timing is everything."

Jindal, who earned his governor's seat in October 2007, has denied he would seek the Republican presidential candidacy in 2012.

Louisiana political observer John Maginnis supported that stance, telling Politico that Jindal would only consider a presidential run if Obama is a "unmitigated disaster."