Jindal defends McDonnell, slams McAuliffe

MILWAUKEE -- Republican Governors Association Chairman Bobby Jindal defended embattled Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) Sunday, saying McDonnell did the right thing by apologizing to the people of Virginia for a gifts scandal that has seized his final months in office.

But Jindal declined to say whether Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II, the Republican nominee for governor, should return gifts from the same donor who has come under scrutiny in the McDonnell scandal. Instead, Jindal attacked Cuccinelli's opponent, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, whose former company has also come under investigation over a separate matter.

"I have talked to Bob. I think he's done a great job as governor of Virginia," Jindal, the governor of Louisiana, told reporters here. "I think he did the right thing by returning those gifts and by apologizing to the people of Virginia."