An internal struggle for leadership of Louisiana’s Republican Party, its agenda and its influence between U.S. Sen. David Vitter and Gov. Bobby Jindal, has quietly seethed behind the scenes of the GOP. Now, it’s spilling increasingly into public view.

Vitter launched an offensive against Jindal’s backing of expensive New Orleans public hospital plans, and most recently the two GOP leaders have been scuffling over their sway in this fall’s legislative elections.

Louisiana’s Republican senator made comments suggesting Jindal hasn’t been forceful enough in pushing a conservative agenda, and the only slightly-veiled criticism is clearly hitting Jindal in a sensitive spot in an election year.

The state’s top Republican officials have had a frosty relationship for years, since Vitter’s 2007 prostitution scandal. Jindal made it obvious he didn’t want the stigma of the scandal to blemish his own reputation.

Jindal had endorsed candidates in previous federal and state races, but when Vitter was up for re-election, the governor didn’t endorse the senator. The snub raised complaints in Republican circles, as Jindal backed GOP candidates in federal races around the country at the same time he refused to offer recommendations in his home state.

Despite the governor’s support, Vitter easily won a second term and he recently endorsed Jindal in the upcoming governor’s race. But the endorsement was a back-handed compliment at best.

Vitter used his announcement that he was supporting Jindal as a way to take a swipe at the governor as well. In his e-mail to supporters, Vitter suggested Jindal needed help to “become as engaged and bold as possible in his second term.”

The Jindal campaign’s response was terse in its thanks. “We appreciate his support,” campaign spokesman Aaron Baer replied.

Meanwhile, a competition for dominance and influence in this fall’s legislative races has emerged.

In 2005, Vitter helped found the Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority, which has spent more than $3 million since then in its work to elect conservative GOP candidates to the state House and Senate. The organization is planning heavy involvement in the Oct. 22 election as well, seeking to hold on to Republican majorities in the chamber, but also hoping to shift the Legislature more to the right.

Now, Jindal’s seeking to make his own mark — and gain his own sway — over those elections.

Earlier this month, the governor sent an e-mail to his supporters saying he’s working with the state Republican Party on fundraising efforts to bring more GOP members to the Louisiana Capitol. He was seeking donations for the Victory Fund, a GOP fundraising arm focused on state legislative races.

Under campaign finance laws, Vitter’s committee cannot legally coordinate with candidates, and Jindal made sure to point to that limitation as he sought donations for his fundraising effort with the state party.

“Unlike other efforts, the LA GOP’s Victory Fund can coordinate directly with targeted campaigns to spread our conservative message and get-out-the-vote for our targeted candidates to win elections,” Jindal wrote in the e-mail.

Both Vitter and Jindal know that Republican officials who help other GOP candidates get elected can boost their influence in the Legislature.

Vitter wouldn’t allow his younger Republican counterpart to one-up him in the legislative fundraising effort though. So, the senator sent a $10,000 check to the Jindal-backed effort with a handwritten note to the governor giving him advice: “Fight, lead, be bold!”

Perhaps that’s an indication Vitter didn’t think Jindal was doing that already? That’s what Vitter implied in an e-mail he sent out applauding the governor’s new fundraising efforts.

“The focus on true conservatives in Louisiana is an exciting development. I’m hopeful it signals a bolder, more engaged Bobby already,” Vitter wrote.

The election year sniping between Vitter and Jindal comes as Vitter has joined with two other state Republican leaders — House Speaker Jim Tucker and Treasurer John Kennedy — seeking to pressure Jindal to scale back plans for the building of a New Orleans public medical center.

If Jindal wants to assert his leadership over Republican politics in Louisiana, he’ll have to get and stay much more engaged. Vitter’s made it clear he won’t be fading away to Washington and out of Louisiana politics once the fall elections are over.

Melinda Deslatte of the Associated Press in Baton Rouge contributed to this report.