Louisiana gubernatorial candidate of Indian origin, Bobby Jindal, has received support from unexpected quarters with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin crossing party lines to endorse his candidature.

Bobby Jindal for Governor

Nagin, a Democrat, declared his backing for the Republican Jindal at a press conference in New Orleans on Monday saying he was doing so despite political warnings from some Democrats.

"This is a tough choice, but the right one. First of all, I am crossing party lines... But I am comfortable in my decision... because I truly believe it is time for Democrats and Republicans to come together for a better Louisiana and a better New Orleans," said Nagin, a black leader with a reputation for being unconventional.

"I am extremely impressed by Bobby Jindal's intelligence and credentials," he said about the 32-year-old candidate who sat at his side during the press meet.

Nagin went on to enlist Jindal's academic achievements and his accomplishments and said, "He's already faced some of Louisiana's challenges... and now he's spelled out a specific plan to deal with future challenges."

Jindal is credited with having turned the state's medicare deficit into a surplus while he ran the system as Secretary of Department of Health and Hospitals.

Opinion polls suggest Jindal, whose family immigrated from Punjab before he was born, is in a close race with Democrat Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Blanco.