Thaindian News

Washington, Sep 2 (IANS) Louisiana’s Republican Indian-American Governor Bobby Jindal’s support has grown with even some of the biggest Democratic trial lawyers contributing to his re-election war chest, according to media reports.

Just this week, Burton LeBlanc, the vice president of the American Association of Justice (formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America), hosted a $5,000-a-couple fundraiser at his Baton Rouge home for Jindal, Politico, an influential Washington newspaper focusing on politics reported.

LeBlanc and his firm have doled out hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrats over the years, including to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Barack Obama, Politico noted.

Earlier this year, the Metairie-based firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams threw a $1,000-per person cocktail party to benefit Jindal’s re-election.

Forbes magazine also recently took note of the “strange bedfellow” relationship between Jindal and Baron & Budd, the Dallas-based firm-also steeped in Democratic politics-that was tapped to handle the state’s litigation against BP.

As Forbes notes, partner Russell Budd held a fundraiser at his home for Obama and grew “famously close” with the Clinton administration.

Jindal’s trial lawyer ties won’t be a liability in the state, Politico said, “but an open question is whether the money and relationships could be viewed as a liability on the national stage” for one who has often been mentioned as a potential vice presidential contender.”

But Jindal campaign aide Tim Teepell is confident: “people will understand when you’re running for office you want the support of everyone.”

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)