Jindal headlines prayer rally in La.

BATON ROUGE, La. - Gov. Bobby Jindal told Christian evangelicals gathered at an all-day prayer rally Saturday that the nation needs a "spiritual revival," as he continued to court religious conservatives for a possible presidential campaign. The rally attracted thousands to the basketball arena on Louisiana State University's campus but drew controversy both because of the group hosting it, the American Family Association, and Jindal's well-advertised headlining appearance.

Holding his Bible, the two-term GOP governor opened the event by urging a revival to "begin right here, right here in our hearts." Jindal, who was raised by Hindu parents, later described his conversion to Christianity as a teenager.

While people sang, raised their hands in prayer, and gave their personal testimonies inside the arena, hundreds more protested outside early in the day. Critics say the American Family Association, which has linked same-sex marriage and abortion to disasters such as tornadoes and Hurricane Katrina, promotes discrimination against people who are gay or of non-Christian faiths.

Jindal insisted the rally was a religious event, not a political one - even as participants prayed for religion to guide political decision-making. "Today is about humbling ourselves before the Lord. Today we repent for our sins," he said. Later Jindal told attendees: "We can't just elect a candidate to fix our country. . . . We need a spiritual revival to fix our country."

The event comes as Jindal has held meetings with pastors in the key presidential campaign states of Iowa and New Hampshire and spoken at gatherings of faith leaders and conservative activists in several states. His appearance kept him from the Iowa Freedom Summit, which attracted several potential presidential contenders.