Jindal 'absolutely' running for reelection

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) said this weekend that he is "absolutely" running for reelection next year. 

The Louisiana governor, who has sometimes been mentioned as a GOP presidential candidate in 2012, said he fully intends to seek a second term.

"I'm absolutely running for reelection," Jindal said during an interview with a local NBC affiliate. "You know, there's been a lot of speculation: would I run for another office, would I go to Washington, D.C.? I'm interested in helping to lead our state."

Jindal had been viewed as a strong contender for the White House in 2012 until he delivered what many viewed as a lackluster response to President Obama's first address to a joint session of Congress. 

The governor has recently been occupied with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and cleanup efforts. His handling of the crisis has boosted his popularity in Louisiana.

Jindal has criticized the Obama administration and federal regulators for imposing a moratorium on new deepwater drilling. 

"The federal government has taken a lot of action that have hurt our economy," Jindal told KPLC. "For example, this moratorium that could cost Louisiana as much as 20,000 jobs. They've also done things like cap and trade … you add all that up and the federal government has adopted many policies that are hurting our economy."

Jindal is up for reelection next year.