Republican Bobby Jindal's campaign to become the first Indian-American governor in American history has touched a nerve with some Pakistani-Americans, who are lining up to support Democrat Kathleen Blanco of Lafayette in Saturday's runoff.

The support culminated during an Oct. 21 fund-raiser for Blanco in Lake Charles sponsored by the Pakistani-American Business Association of Louisiana, which gave Blanco $50,000 for her campaign.

One attendee said Jindal's Indian heritage has some Pakistanis worried, given the decades of animosity between India and Pakistan.

"I think it's a kind of unforeseen fear that if Bobby Jindal gets elected he might push things that are against the Pakistani interest," said Ashraf Abbasi of Port Arthur, Texas, president of the Pakistani-American Congress, an umbrella organization for Pakistani-American groups.

Blanco spokesman Bob Mann confirmed that she attended the fund-raiser but could not verify how much was collected.

Mann said the subject of Indo-Pakistan relations never surfaced. "What I was told is it was a social function in which people came and mingled and spoke with her."

Landrieu amid controversies

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., has become an issue in the Louisiana gubernatorial race, and not completely by choice.

First, she got into a tiff with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin when she criticized his endorsement of Republican Bobby Jindal of Baton Rouge. Landrieu is backing Democrat Kathleen Blanco of Lafayette.

Then the pro-voucher group D.C. Parents for School Choice ran a full-page ad Thursday in The Times-Picayune complaining about Landrieu's opposition to a voucher bill and urging local voters to send her a message this election. The group also is running a radio ad in New Orleans and has placed about 20,000 pre-recorded telephone calls to city residents on the voucher issue.

"We're asking black folks in Louisiana to just say no when Mary Landrieu asks them to get out the vote for her friends, just like she said no to black D.C. children trapped in the nation's worst public schools," said Virginia Walden-Ford, president of the D.C. group.

Walden-Ford said money for the campaign is coming from Indianapolis insurance executive Pat Rooney, a major GOP financial supporter who backs public financing of vouchers.

Magazine picks Jindal for best, brightest list

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal of Baton Rouge has been featured in quite a few national publications recently. And he's adding to that a mention on Esquire magazine's annual "Best and Brightest" list.

In its December issue, the magazine describes Jindal, the 32-year-old son of Indian immigrants, as "the new face of Southern politics" and says it expects to see more of the GOP candidate regardless of whether he defeats Democrat Kathleen Blanco of Lafayette in the runoff Saturday.

"Even if he isn't elected, Jindal will wind up making an impact somewhere," the article says.

Nagin tries to downplay role of party affiliations

Continuing his bid to siphon Democratic support from Kathleen Blanco in the gubernatorial race, Republican Bobby Jindal unveiled a new TV commercial Thursday that features New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin asking viewers to ignore Jindal's party affiliation.

"This year, it can't matter whether we're Democrats or Republicans," said Nagin, a Democrat who crossed party lines to endorse Jindal last week. "We've got to do what's right for Louisiana."

Without mentioning Blanco by name, the 30-second spot suggests the lieutenant governor is a product of the old political machine. "Old politics says what's in it for me," Nagin said. "New leadership says what's best for all of us."

BOLD defectors back Blanco's bid for post

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Kathleen Blanco has picked up the endorsements of high-profile defections from the BOLD political organization that earlier stunned observers by endorsing Republican Bobby Jindal for governor.

Blanco got the backing of New Orleans City Council President Oliver Thomas, state Rep. Karen Carter and former New Orleans Assessor Ken Carter.

"They are the biggest people in BOLD. ... We view it as cementing solid African-American support across the city," said Ray Teddlie, Blanco's media consultant.

"Her record as lieutenant governor has proven that she is a champion for our city," Thomas said.

Karen Carter couldn't make the news conference because of a scheduling conflict, so her father spoke on their endorsement. "Kathleen has endured and produced results while being in public service," Ken Carter said. "She has the full support of my daughter Karen and my family."

N.O. pastor supports Democratic hopeful

The pastor of one of the country's larger black churches has given his blessing to Democrat Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco's bid for governor in Saturday's runoff.

Bishop Paul Morton of the Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Orleans threw his backing to the Lafayette resident during a press conference Friday afternoon at an eastern New Orleans motel. Joining him were 25 other black clergyman.

"She is a woman of God, goals and vision who will help the people of this state make a difference," Morton said, according to the Blanco campaign.

Three state officials stand behind Wooley

Democratic Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley has picked up the backing of three other statewide elected officials hoping to help him keep his job.

Wooley faces Republican Dan Kyle in Saturday's runoff. He got the backing Thursday of Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom, outgoing Attorney General Richard Ieyoub and newly elected Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu. All three men said Wooley has the skills Louisiana insurance companies and consumers need in the state Insurance Department.

Wooley has run the office since October 2000, when Jim Brown stepped down after a federal conviction.

Ieyoub said Wooley has built back the confidence of the national insurance industry and the people of Louisiana. "I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And it ain't broke. It is operating full speed ahead."