Jindal, 44, announced his decision late today (Nov. 17) on Fox News Network.
The ultra-conservative politician was the only Asian/American candidate making a run for the nation's highest office. But backing a candidate because of their ethnicity was never in the cards for the Indian/American since his platform - especially his stance against President Obama's immigration reform - runs counter to what pollsters say is important to Asian American voters.
Jindal's departure from the race was no surprise - it's a wonder he lasted so long - since he had raised little money, failed to capture the imagination of the big-money PAC's despite his platform supporting their agenda and he was supported by less than one percent of Republican voters.
Following is Jindal's statement from his campaign website:
I cannot tell you what an honor it has been to run for President of the United States of America. My parents came to this country 45 years ago searching for freedom and a chance.
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| Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal |
When I was born, we lived in student housing at LSU, and never in their wildest dreams did they think their son would have the opportunity to serve as Governor of Louisiana or to run for President.
They raised me to believe Americans can do anything, and they were right, we can. But this is not my time, so I am suspending my campaign for President.
Going forward, I believe we have to be the party of growth and we can never stop being the party that believes in opportunity. We cannot settle for The Left’s view of envy and division. We have to be the party that says everyone in this country - no matter the circumstances of their birth or who their parents are – can succeed in America.
One of the things I will do is go back to work at the think tank I started a few years ago - where I will be outlining a blueprint for making this the American century.
We must show the way forward on growing our economy and winning the war against terror, and especially defeating radical Islam.
I realize that our country is off on the wrong track right now. Everyone knows that, but don’t forget, this is still the greatest country in the history of the world – and every single one of us should start every day by thanking God that we are fortunate enough to be US citizens.
Now is the time for all those Americans who still believe in freedom and American exceptionalism to stand up and defend it. The idea of America – the idea that my parents came here for almost a half a century ago - that idea is slipping away from us. Freedom is under assault from both outside our borders and from within. We must act now, we do not have a moment to spare.
Going forward, I believe we have to be the party of growth and we can never stop being the party that believes in opportunity. We cannot settle for The Left’s view of envy and division. We have to be the party that says everyone in this country - no matter the circumstances of their birth or who their parents are – can succeed in America.
One of the things I will do is go back to work at the think tank I started a few years ago - where I will be outlining a blueprint for making this the American century.
We must show the way forward on growing our economy and winning the war against terror, and especially defeating radical Islam.
I realize that our country is off on the wrong track right now. Everyone knows that, but don’t forget, this is still the greatest country in the history of the world – and every single one of us should start every day by thanking God that we are fortunate enough to be US citizens.
Now is the time for all those Americans who still believe in freedom and American exceptionalism to stand up and defend it. The idea of America – the idea that my parents came here for almost a half a century ago - that idea is slipping away from us. Freedom is under assault from both outside our borders and from within. We must act now, we do not have a moment to spare.Jindal was the third governor to drop out of Republican race for president. Preceding him was Wisconsin Gov. Scott Perry and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
It is not certain what Jindal's future will be since Louisiana is slated to elect a new governor this month in a runoff election. Both candidates for governor have criticized Jindal's administration.
In a last hurrah, of sorts, Jindal joined other Republican governors in banning Syrian refugees in his state. Whether or not the governors have a legal basis for their action remains to be seen.
“Let’s be really honest about this: Immigration without assimilation is not immigration; it’s an invasion,” he said.
With statement's like that, it is amazing that he considered himself a viable enough candidate to run for President. Even his own Indian/American community was embarrassed by him.
Goodbye Bobby, we hardly got to know you, but we knew enough ...
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