The state's political class is paying more attention than it usually does to a mayor's election in New Orleans. They are interested in the future leadership of the city, of course, but they are intrigued about how the results of this election could have a lot to say about the future leadership of the state.

   This chain of speculation began last month when Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu suddenly and surprisingly declared for mayor and instantly became the way-ahead frontrunner for the Feb. 6 primary election. Right away, the names of potential No. 2 replacements began circulating, whether by an interim appointment from the governor or a special election in the fall to complete the term, or both.

   The possibility that New Orleans voters will not cooperate in the scenario and not elect Mr. Landrieu only slightly tempers the posturing and fantasizing of those who would succeed him. That's because, should Landrieu lose in his third attempt to be mayor, he would be seen as vulnerable for re-election in 2011 and might not even run again.

   Despite the jokes about it, the No. 2 state office looms ever larger on the political landscape because of new speculation about Gov. Bobby Jindal and another No. 2 spot, on the Republicans' national ticket in 2012.

   Despite the jokes about him, it appears that Jindal is emerging from the political rehab to which he was relegated after he bombed in his nationally televised speech on Mardi Gras night last year. After the laughter faded, he became the contender the Republicans forgot, as his name dropped out of the polls of potential GOP presidential nominees.

   After a year of crisscrossing the land raising money for his re-election and for other Republicans, and after gaining attention for his critique of the Democrats' national healthcare plans, he is still not presidential timber, but there are those who see him in the supporting role.

   That would be Newsweek blogger Andrew Romano, whose recent installment of his series, Absolutely Premature 2012 Watch, makes the case why Jindal would be an attractive running mate for any of several Republican presidential aspirants in 2012, especially the absolutely premature frontrunner Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts.

  The columnist writes that Jindal could provide "the Republican ticket with exactly the sort of modern, multicultural appeal it needs to compete with Obama, and exactly the sort of pragmatic conservative credentials that will attract voters turned off by four years of Democratic rule."

   Indeed, Jindal could add some value to a Republican ticket, and what he doesn't bring, a talent for public speaking, would hardly matter, since no one pays attention to what a vice presidential candidate or vice president says anyway--unless it's very stupid or outrageous, which is not Bobby's style.

   If the heavens so align and Jindal, re-elected in 2011, finds himself the vice president-elect a year later, his No. 2 in Baton Rouge would serve out the last three years of the term. If nothing more comes to pass than Jindal's re-election, a new governor would be elected in 2015, and a new lieutenant governor in 2011 would have an inside track to the top.

   Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, a Republican, is open about his interest in running in a possible special election for lieutenant governor this fall, more interested, it seems, than he is in challenging U.S. Sen. David Vitter in a party primary.

   Among Democrats who might seek to be the new lieutenant governor is the old one, former Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who held the No. 2 post for eight years before Landrieu. A source close to her reports that she is fielding calls from people in the hospitality industry asking her, at very least, "to just don't say no yet." She is not saying anything.

   Besides them, there is a raft of other politicos eyeing the potential opening, particularly some term-limited officials who already were scouting that race for 2011, whether or not Landrieu is still there or runs again.

   So depending on what happens in New Orleans soon, come this fall and the next fall and the fall after that, the most important question in state politics could be, "Who's No. 2?"