As the Republican Party struggles to discover a new identity while Democrats hold power, attention is already focused on the potential candidates for the 2012 presidential election.A Sept. 17 straw poll from the 2009 Value Voters Summit in Washington D.C. listed several prominent Republican names for 2012 — including Gov. Bobby Jindal.Jindal only ranked seventh with less than 5 percent of the vote, but the governor has been red flagged by Republicans as a possible fresh national face since the 2008 election.Jindal announced in December 2008 he would not run for president in 2012. He said he would instead focus his attention on his 2011 re-election campaign.But the governor’s announcement left room for him to change his mind.Robert Hogan, associate professor of political science, said Jindal’s posturing suggests national ambitions despite his statements he won’t take the center stage.”To be a viable candidate for president, you need to court the very conservative wing of the Republican Party,” Hogan said. “And that seems to be what he’s doing.”Hogan pointed to several policy stances Jindal has taken since 2008 indicating a play to the socially and fiscally conservative voter base.Hogan said Jindal refused any possibility to raise taxes in the last legislative session, a possible red flag for Republicans. Jindal’s refusal of $75 million in federal unemployment funds from the stimulus package made him popular among conservative voters, Hogan said.Jindal issued an executive order last week to refuse state money to the controversy-wracked Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.The state’s Division of Administration reported no state agencies have ever had contracts with ACORN.Hogan said these forms of political posturing show Jindal may still be open to a nomination for president in 2012, or at least a vice-presidential slot.The political action committee “Jindal for President Draft Council, Inc.” was formed earlier this year to raise funds for a future presidential run. Though Jindal is aware of the organization, he claims no connection to it.Jindal even requested the PAC stop its effort, believing the work of the committee might damage his ability to govern the state efficiently.”At that point he was trying to pass legislation, and a lot of people felt he should concentrate on being governor instead of focusing on national politics,” said Dan Kyle, former treasure for Jindal for President Draft Council, Inc.Kyle resigned from his position when Jindal said a national fund-raiser would conflict with his gubernatorial fund-raisers.Young voters were an important demographic in the 2008 election. Jindal would have to capitalize on the youth vote before he could be considered as a viable candidate, Hogan said.”I like what he’s done in terms of ethics, but I’m not sure if he has the national experience in terms of foreign policy,” said Justin Terracciano, biological chemistry freshman.Terracciano said he considers himself a Republican, but said Jindal would have to clearly explain his issues before he could support him.Teriana Wilcox, biological engineering freshman, said feels Jindal talks down to his constituents. She said she sees the governor as something of a little kid.”The way he came across publicly to the entire nation didn’t seem like it would make a lasting impact on people,” Wilcox said.——Contact Adam Duvernay at [email protected]