Over at Townhall.com, local conservative talk-show host Michael Medved makes a powerful case for Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal as McCain’s vice-presidential nominee:

Bobby Jindal offers the GOP the best chance in many years for reshaping the party’s tarnished, tired image without in any way abandoning timeless conservative principles. McCain should select the Louisiana governor several weeks before the convention, to get maximum benefit from his candidacy. Imagine a quick Jindal foreign tour– including a stop in his ancestral homeland, India, where he will be received (rightly) as a conquering hero. Just as Obama-mania begins to feel a bit forced and old-hat, Jindal-mania can inspire press and public with attention to every aspect of the governor’s amazing career, his gorgeous and adorable young family, profoundly eloquent expressions of Catholic faith (he gives moving testimonials to the power of Christ in Evangelical churches), unlikely connection with the “Bubba” vote in Louisiana, and much, much more. The very prospect of a Vice President whose full legal name is “Piyush Subhaschandra Amrit “Bobby” Jindal” has a marvelously exotic, only-in-American feel to it.

Next to Huckabee, I think Jindal might just be the strongest possible pick for McCain. His recent appearance on Leno (see above) shows that he has a strong TV presence, and the Brown-to-Oxford-as-a-Rhodes scholar has a much fuller resume than Obama (two full terms in the House, for starters). If I were McCain, I’d definitely give this guy some serious consideration.