According to the daily, no one questioned that Jindal would be atop the field once all votes were tallied. That he could win an outright majority was a possibility but not a sure thing, based on recent polls, it said.

It quoted political analysts said the Indian American had built up support as a sort of 'buyer's remorse' from people who voted for incumbent Governor Kathleen Blanco last time and had second thoughts about that decision. Blanco was widely criticized for the state's response to Hurricane Katrina and she announced months ago that she will not seed re-election.