Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal plans to double down on the assertion there are neighborhoods in Western nations where Islamic traditions trump civic laws, a move that appears aimed at standing out in a crowded field of potential Republican candidates for president.

Yet some in his party question if it's a strategy that has the potential to resonate in the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, especially if well-funded establishment favorites - including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney - join the race.

"He's in a battle for headlines in a field that includes Jeb and Mitt," said Ford O'Connell, a Republican strategist who advised John McCain's presidential bid on connecting with rural voters.

Read more from Philip Elliot and Steve Peoples at The Associated Press