Clinton (Iowa, US), Dec 22: Louisiana’s Indian origin Governor Bobby Jindal had decided to join Rick Perry’s bus tour through a handful Iowa towns, and ended up stealing the spotlight from the former.

According to Politico, even as Jindal played his dutiful role as a validator of Perry’s accomplishments as Texas governor, some Iowans couldn’t help but notice that the 40-year-old himself seemed awfully presidential.

“He’s a wonderfully sincere young man. I think he’s done a great job so far, and I hope to see him go a lot farther in the future. I think he wants to take a little more time. But whenever he’s ready, I think the country’s ready,” said Kathy Quinton, who trained her camera phone on Jindal as he entered a bakery in DeWitt.

Vinje Dahl, a Davenport auto dealer, also said he was still undecided following Perry’s 20-minute speech at a riverside marina here, but dubbed Jindal “a hero.”

Jindal, who cruised to reelection this October with nominal opposition, declined a 2012 presidential run last fall.

But the country’s first Indian-American governor will undoubtedly be a top GOP presidential prospect in 2016 if President Barack Obama is reelected.