New Orleans: Despite recent speculations that he was considering dropping out of the race, Bobby Jindal said yesterday that he was adamant to continue pursuing the Republican presidential nomination.

Jindal's staff sought to discredit a story in Politico that Jindal planned to quit running, calling the report "B.S."

Politico reported that Republican "activists, operatives and strategists" in Iowa had named Jindal and former New York governor George Pataki as the next likely candidates to bow out.

Jindal's team has strongly disputed that prediction.

"These 'insiders' are made up of other campaign staff who want to attack Gov. Jindal," spokeswoman Shannon Dirmann said.

Tim Saler, Jindal's deputy campaign manager, pointed out that Politico in July had called Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker dominant in Iowa. Walker quit the race last week.

Five Thirty-Eight made a counter-prediction to Politico Friday, calling Jindal a "sleeper pick" to win the Iowa caucuses early next year.

(With inputs from nola.com)