Jindal most popular US governor, says poll

Indian-origin Louisiana leader Bobby Jindal is the most popular serving governor in the United States, an opinion poll has said.

Jindal has an approval rating of 58 per cent, along with 34 per cent disapproving of his job, shows a survey by Public Policy Polling. One of the top ranking Republican leaders of the country, Jindal is seeking re-election next year. Jindal is closely followed by Jodi Rell of Connecticut, who has an approval rating of 55 per cent.

California's Arnold Schwarzenegger is the least popular governor in the country with an approval rating of just 25 per cent.

Meanwhile, in his remarks on Thursday, Jindal said the massive oil spill off the state's coast will continue to be a challenge into 2011 and beyond.

"As I reflect on the oil spill I keep getting the question, 'Is Louisiana going to be OK? You've been through four hurricanes and an oil spill in the past few years. What's wrong with you people down there? Are you waiting for locusts," Jindal said.

At 36, Jindal in 2007 became the first elected non-white governor of Louisiana and also the first ever Indian American governor of an American state.

Since then, he has been ranked as one of the most popular governors of the country and a rising star of the Republican Party. He is also considered to be an aspiring presidential candidate for the party, though he has denied this.

Image: Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and wife Supriya | Photograph: Reuters