Louisiana’s Republican leaders expressed pride in the way the way state voters supported Mitt Romney’s challenge to President Barak Obama. Romney’s easy victory was confirmation the Pelican State’s primary political color, especially in presidential elections, remains red.

But with the American people narrowly granting Obama another term, statewide political observers have shifted their focus to the governor’s mansion and its occupant, Gov. Bobby Jindal. For the past two years Jindal has hop scotched the country on the rubber chicken circuit, not only raising money for Romney but for other GOP candidates as well.

Pundits speculated that the lame duck was maneuvering for a position in Romney’s cabinet should the ex-Massachusetts governor be elected. But with that possibility jettisoned, what is Jindal’s next move?

The answer lies in his itinerary. If the governor continues to rack up frequent flier miles the way offenses pile up yardage against the Saints defense then it will be clear Jindal has launched his 2016 presidential campaign, which would surprise few and be applauded in some GOP circles.

Staying closer to home is a signal the governor is regrouping and discerning his future, perhaps eyeing a potential run against incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu, who remains powerful but also showed some vulnerability in her recent victory.

The hope here is Jindal spends more time in the state attempting to plug the troublesome dike of a shrinking budget. Already, he has gutted higher education and health care and more cuts are probably on the way.

Jindal’s frequent fundraising trips alienated some legislators, so spending quality time and making nice with lawmakers may be the perfect salve to build a harmonious bridge between the executive and legislative branches of state government. Compromise among Jindal and lawmakers is imperative if the state is going to emerge from this current financial quagmire.

While on the national stump Jindal was emerging as a darling among the more conservative branch of the Republican Party, especially the tea party. But how that would play out nationally in a party that seems to have eschewed its historic conservative ideology in favor of a more pronounced swing to the center is uncertain.

This year Romney appeared to be more of a compromise candidate, with some GOP leaders fearing some of the early frontrunners were too conservative and in their view not electable. But with the Republicans on a two-presidential election-losing streak will the pendulum swing back toward the right?

If so, Jindal may be a credible candidate. But he must first take care of business at home before he sets his sights any higher.