Gube candidates criticize Jindal for being absent from state, and Vitter for being absent from forum

The Wednesday night gubernatorial forum in Hammond was supposed to be focused on higher education, but the event was also dominated by the absence of two men -- Gov. Bobby Jindal and U.S. Sen. David Vitter.

As the sitting governor, Jindal wouldn't be expected to show up at such an event. But all of the candidates criticized Jindal for being absent from Louisiana. Jindal's focus on his presidential campaign has made him unpopular.

"Welcome to day 98 of my acting governorship of Louisiana," was the first thing Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne said at the forum. (Dardenne can be called upon for gubernatorial duties when Jindal travels outside of the state.)

When asked who he was supporting for president in 2016, Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle quipped: "Undecided. We don't need another governor talking about presidential politics."

Read more: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/09/governor_candidates_higher_edu.html#incart_river