ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:

Bobby Jindal mirrors the immigrant aspiration (New Kerala, Nov 5, 2004)

As Bobby Jindal prepares for Washington to take his place in Congress, in many ways the "wonder-boy" of Punjabi heritage, born and brought up in Louisiana, presents the amalgam that goes to make this country.

It symbolises the opportunity every Indian American and perhaps every immigrant, aspires to. He broke racial barriers in a district that is majority white and conservative.

His grassroots campaign that got volunteers to walk miles and miles and knock on thousands of doors, was a textbook example of taking nothing for granted. And he is taking nothing for granted going to Washington. By the end of his campaign, Jindal began giving to the Republican National Committee ($25,000) and to the Louisiana Republican Party ($12,500).

And he also gave some $125,000 to 45 Republican candidates around the country building his support base in the Capitol. "We're doing this so when the time comes, we can go to those same colleagues and explain what issues are important for Louisiana," Jindal told New Orleans Times Picayune.

As predicted by virtually all pollsters, analysts and talking-heads, Jindal, 33, made history Nov 2 by winning a seat to the House of Representatives from Louisiana's 1st District in a landslide victory. Now he is busy thanking his constituents and key supporters, calling Republican bigwigs, and making sure to smooth his way once in Washington.

There is no limit to his future.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 5, 2004 10:30 AM