Although the new president hasn’t even been sworn in yet, political junkies are looking ahead to 2012. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal told Associated Press reporters on Wednesday that he won’t be on presidential ballots in four years. Jindal is being watched as one of the top Republican contenders together with Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee and, of course, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

It’s no secret that Pawlenty is looking to higher office, and the makeup of the Republican candidate pool might make his decision to forgo another run for governor in 2010, a seat he has never won by a majority. Will Jindal’s statement put ideas in his head?