Orrin Kerr agrees with you -
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Will Mitch Daniels Run?
Orin Kerr • September 1, 2010 6:11 pm
Here’s the latest speculation about whether Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels might run for the Presidency in 2012. I hope he does: From what I know at this point, he’s my favorite potential GOP candidate.
volokh.com
Mitch Daniels Inner Circle
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels created a minor furor recently when comments he made to the Louisville Courier Journal were initially interpreted as him ruling out a run for president in 2012.
Upon closer inspection, however, Daniels was doing the classic tap dance of any potential presidential candidate. "This is nothing I have started, encouraged," Daniels told the paper. "It's nothing I'm going to do anything about. If it's still an interesting subject in a few months, ask me then." (Oh, we will!)
Daniels' comments -- and the buzz from those who buzz about these things in Washington -- make clear that the Indiana governor is, in fact, at least mulling the possibility of a candidacy.
Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar (R) is playing a cheerleading role for a Daniels 2012 bid these days; "I have encouraged him to run." Lugar said in a recent C-SPAN interview. "I think that he would be an outstanding candidate and a great president."
Daniels' resume would almost certainly be the envy of the rest of the Republican field. After serving in a series of political staff jobs -- chief of staff to Lugar, executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee -- Daniels came to national prominence at the director of the Office of Management and Budget for President George W. Bush.
Daniels left that job in 2002 and returned to his native Indiana in 2003 to run for governor. He won the 2004 race over acting Gov. Joe Kernan (D) 53 percent to 45 percent -- seizing the change mantle from a moribund Democratic party -- and won re-election in 2008 (not exactly a great year to be a Republican) by 18 points.
Daniels' successes in the electorally critical Midwest intrigue national Republicans who see the region as essential to their chances of beating President Barack Obama in 2012.
So, who is Daniels relying on to make up his mind about a bid? While he is famously independent when it comes to his campaigns, Daniels does depend on a group of informal advisers for guidance...
voices.washingtonpost.com |
