NEW ORLEANS -- Former state and federal health official Bobby Jindal (pictured, below) said Thursday that he will run for the U.S. House seat now held by fellow Republican David Vitter, who is running for the Senate.

Vitter, who hopes to succeed retiring Democrat John Breaux in the Senate, joined Jindal and endorsed his candidacy during a news conference in Metairie. Vitter said he would vacate his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to run for the Senate.

Jindal, who lost to Kathleen Blanco in last year's runoff in the race for governor, recently announced that he was moving his family from Baton Rouge to Kenner in the 1st Congressional District. His spokesman, Trey Williams, said earlier this year that people encouraged Jindal to run for the congressional seat

Jindal said he would offer an official platform later but said he already knows that he will focus on five areas:

Support of President George W. Bush's war on terrorism.
Health care improvements.
Controlling government spending.
Social issues, including his anti-abortion stance.
Promoting improvements in the district, including attracting jobs, protecting military bases, flood control and coastal erosion.

Republican state Rep, Steve Scalise has also declared his candidacy for the seat and Rep. A.G Crowe, a Republican from Pearl River, is expected to announce whether he will run on Monday.

A spokesman for former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, now serving a federal prison term for bilking supporters and cheating on his taxes, said Duke might also make the race.