Campaign Spot reader Ben calls my attention to this exchange between Indiana governor Mitch Daniels and an Indiana television reporter, which could be interpreted as a sign that his heart isn’t really in a presidential run, at least at this moment:
Jim Shella: By not deciding are you, in fact, deciding?
Daniels: Maybe. It’s a great question. You mean, shouldn’t you be getting started and heading to Iowa and doing whatever it is people do?
Shella: Exactly.
Daniels: Maybe. If so, so. You know, my duty is here. My heart is here. I’m incredibly excited about the chance to do some more really good things for Indiana in the next four months and that’s coming first. So, if it’s too late, then it’s too late.
Of course, this is a safe, appropriate answer for a governor with time left in his second term. And the fact that Daniels appears to be not terribly eager for the ordeal of running for president might just be a sales pitch for his sanity . . .
He could run for the Senate against Dick Lugar and still be serving Indiana... just saying...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat is what Daniels has been saying for quite awhile: he'll focus on his duties as governor until the legislative session is completed, and then decide whether to run for President. Waiting does put him behind in terms of organization. On the other hand, he has the potential to do some terrific things in our legislature this year - biggest GOP majorities in a very long time. That may help his pitch more than the benefits of a few early trips to Iowa.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRunning for president always requires a pretty tight balancing act: if you seem too ambitious and zealous, you might come off as arrogant and self-absorbed, but if you seem too apathetic about running, people will wonder if you really are motivated to handle the burdens of the office. It’s hard to know what Mitch Daniels really thinks about running. But as we saw with Fred Thompson, if you rally around a reluctant candidate enough, he/she might actually run, but you can pretty much count on that campaign running out of steam pretty quickly. I think Mitch Daniels could be a great candidate, but only if his heart is really in it.
Ugh, it’s just hard to know what to say about the Republican field. All of our best candidates (IMHO) haven’t been around long enough and/or are not interested in running right now.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJim wrote: "Of course, this is a safe, appropriate answer for a governor with time left in his second term. And the fact that Daniels appears to be not terribly eager for the ordeal of running for president might just be a sales pitch for his sanity . . ."
Or it could be the inevitable fall-back answer for a guy whose latest policy suggestions (VAT, Truce, etc) have been so disasterous that any hopes of gaining traction in a GOP primary field is dead.
Latest national primary poll I saw had Daniels at 1% (margin of error 3%, so it could be less). Give it up.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI would like to see him run. I am not giving my support to anyone right now, but he would be someone I'd strongly consider voting for.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDaniels seems like a nice guy, and Indiana is a good place for a nice guy to finish out his career. Who knows...maybe a Republican president-elect in 2012 will need an OMB Director or SecTreasury.
Or, as gullyborg suggests, he could do Indiana, America and the U.S. Senate a huge favor by forcibly retiring Dick Lugar next time he runs for re-election. When is Lugar up again? I know he's old as dirt, but I'm assuming he'll keep running for new terms until he's dead and buried or gets beaten.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI like how Mitch Daniels is a somewhat reluctant politician with a life outside of government. Hate how so many politicians from both parties get a BA in Political Science, a law degree, and then spend their life trying to run our lives. I want a presidential candidate with private sector business experience and experience as governor with the right temperament to lead. Contrast Daniels with Pawlenty, for example.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLugar is up for re-election in 2012. I would love to see Daniels challenge him in the primary!
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