This week, Gov. Bobby Jindal was given multiple opportunities to make an endorsement in the race for U.S. Senate. In each instance, he refused to support fellow Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter. According to Jindal, “The bottom line is we haven’t made any endorsements in the federal races in this cycle, in this state yet.”

Of course, Jindal has been endorsing Republicans from all over the nation as he goes from one fundraiser to the next. In fact, he will soon be traveling to Minnesota to lend his support to Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Why does the Governor feel comfortable endorsing Republicans in other states, but not Louisiana? Even though he does not spend much time in the state, it would seem that Jindal would be more familiar with Louisiana Republicans than out of state Republicans.

The sad reality is that Jindal is making these out of state endorsements to build up his own political IOU’s not to help build the party.

He has his sights set on national office, and he wants Republicans throughout the country to feel indebted to him. For example, Pawlenty is a possible GOP presidential candidate and Jindal would jump at the chance of serving on a national ticket. In contrast, he is not endorsing Republicans in Louisiana because it does not benefit him politically.

Vitter has a solid conservative voting record and has been endorsed by a variety of groups from the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association to the Alliance for Good Government. He is leading in the polls and won the Republican primary with an astounding 88 percent of the vote.

His major opponent, U.S. Congressman Charlie Melancon

(D-Napoleonville) is a supporter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama.

Even though he is trying to position himself as another Democrat centrist like John Breaux, Melancon is clearly more liberal than the average Louisiana voter. Theoretically, he is also more liberal than the supposedly “conservative” Gov. Bobby Jindal. In most states, a “conservative” Republican governor would enthusiastically endorse a conservative incumbent Republican U.S. Senator.

Once again, Louisiana is different and for our governor his political future is his primary concern. Obviously, he is looking intently at his national options, whether it is on the GOP presidential ticket or a cabinet position in the next Republican administration. Another option is that he may run against incumbent Democrat U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu in 2014. Whatever happens, the odds are pretty good that Jindal will not finish two terms as governor of Louisiana.

One indication of Jindal’s selfishness is the fact that he almost never returns the phone calls of the man most responsible for his political career, former Gov. Mike Foster, who plucked Jindal out of obscurity for a cabinet position. At the end of his term, Foster strongly supported Jindal’s first campaign for governor, which laid the groundwork for his entire political career. Without Foster, it is doubtful that Jindal would be governor today. In visiting with a small group of political friends recently, Foster admitted that he has very limited access to his former political protégé. Talk about a lack of gratitude!

Sen. Vitter will probably receive a last minute endorsement from the Governor. Back in 2008, Jindal gave Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy a tepid, tardy endorsement in his uphill fight against Landrieu.

If Jindal had been involved in the race earlier and aggressively helped Kennedy raise money and support, it may have made a big difference for Kennedy and helped him win the election. It would have helped the GOP take a Democratic U.S. Senate seat. However, back in 2008, building the Republican Party was not a concern for Bobby Jindal’s and it is no different today.

Jeff Crouere is a local political commentator who hosts both television and radio programs in addition to his written work.