Mitch Daniels was interviewed by an Indianapolis radio station, with most of it being pretty boring: “I’m thinking about running … I’ll decide after the legislative session … campaigns are tough on families … I’ll be looking at the field and their views on dealing with the debt … yada yada yada …”
Pretty much the standard stuff — of course he’ll consider his family (one hopes all candidates do); saying he’ll look at whether someone else is dealing with his issues is what they all say, whether they’ve already decided to run or not; and we already knew he was planning to make his announcement, whatever it is, after the Indiana legislative session.
The interesting nugget was buried halfway through the article:
Daniels has said he tried to recruit four other Republicans into the race before agreeing to consider running himself. But he says that doesn’t mean he’s dissatisfied with the current field — he notes no one’s officially a candidate yet.
First, I’d say it probably does indicate that he’s not happy with the field — why else recruit other entrants?
But the really interesting question to me is: Who are the four potential recruits? Barbour is of course a friend, so he’s likely one of them — but any other speculation? And since the wording indicates that they turned him down, is it another indicator that Barbour is out?
And, if I don’t get another chance to say it: Merry Christmas!
December 24th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Haley Barbour, Jeb Bush, Bobby Jindal and Chris Christie.
December 24th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
I agree with Aron. That’s them.
I guess that means Daniels is in with the backing of the “four”?
Good luck in NH. I mean it.
December 24th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Gov. Daniels: “It’s a terrible mistake”
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) – Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels calls it a terrible mistake for America. He’s talking about the recent health care reform law passed by President Barack Obama earlier this year.
He said he hopes the law will either be struck down by the courts or appealed and replaced with something better. But in the meantime, Daniels said the state has to plan for it now.
He said it will cost Indiana taxpayers $3.5 billion over the next 10 years to pay for health care reform.
“If nothing changes and I hope it will, but if nothing does it will be serious fiscal problem,” Governor Daniels said.”
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This is the kind of strong talk we want in the upcoming debates.
December 24th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
I think you’ve probably got it, Aron. The other names that came to mind were Paul Ryan and Judd Gregg.
Additional thought on the question of whether recruiting others is dissing the current field: It seems to me that it is particularly a slap at Romney and Pawlenty, since they’re the two who are most obviously in. Apparently he doesn’t think we can count on them for ‘specificity’ in terms of dealing with the deficit — since that’s what he says he wants to see before deciding whether to get it himself.
December 24th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Daniels is a big player. I actually think he and Thune are the ONLY dangers to Mitt. He just has to run second/third in Iowa, second in NH, then take off and he’s our nominee and probably next Prez.
Barbour is still considering running so he’s not one of the 4. I expect Perry is one. Maybe Dan Quayle lol.
December 24th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
It will be interesting to see if Mitch runs. He could run very strong in Michigan with its Arab-American communities and this could take votes from Mitt, who needs the State as her favorite son. Daniels would be the first Arab-American President if elected.
December 24th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Jeb Bush and Barbour for sure,Jindal NO,for sure,
he’s not your ordinary GOP hack,he’s different,
independent.
For the life of me I can’t figure out what’s the
big deal about Daniels.
Failure in Bush administration,just OK Governor.
In Cato governors fiscal rankings,he doesn’t look
good at all,compared to 16 governors in front of him,
even six Dem. Governors.
Overall Grades for the Governors
State Governor Score Grade
South Carolina Mark Sanford (R) 74 A
Louisiana Bobby Jindal (R) 71 A
Minnesota Tim Pawlenty (R) 66 A
West Virginia Joe Manchin (D) 66 A
Wyoming Dave Freudenthal (D) 63 B
Rhode Island Don Carcieri (R) 62 B
Oklahoma Brad Henry (D) 62 B
Nevada Jim Gibbons (R) 61 B
Texas Rick Perry (R) 61 B
Alabama Bob Riley (R) 61 B
Montana Brian Schweitzer (D) 61 B
Georgia Sonny Perdue (R) 60 B
Missouri Jay Nixon (D) 59 B
Idaho C. L. “Butch” Otter (R) 58 B
New Mexico Bill Richardson (D) 57 B
Vermont Jim Douglas (R) 56 B
Indiana Mitch Daniels (R) 56 B
Barbour is further down.
=================================
And Mitch’s claim to fame is fiscal responsibility?
Am I missing something?
December 24th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
How about a 70% approval rating Tes (and being re-elected with similar numbers in a state that Obama ended up winning!).
It’s fun to guess but we don’t know who Mitch was referring to. Even someone like Sen Kyl is possible although he has taken a hit with START.
December 26th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Jeb, Christie, Perry, Jindal
December 26th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
JA Pruce-
Why is EVERYTHING for you about race or sex or religion? I just don’t get it. EVERY comment you make on here is based around one of those 3 in 1 way or another. Can’t you just talk about candidates without putting them into some sort of box?
December 26th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Does anyone know whom Mitch Daniels endorsed in 2008? Or did he stay out of the “endorsement” business?
Did Daniels support a Pawlenty VP idea and what were his thoughts on Palin as VP?
Anyone know that history?
December 26th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Tex Con:
Daniels basically stuck to campaigning for reelection as Governor of Indiana. As far as I can tell, Daniels was completely neutral in the endorsement business and didn’t really say anything about the national campaign.
Granted, Daniels was in a tough spot to do much about the national ticket since he was trying to keep his job.
December 26th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Hey Mitch supporters,
Where are you guys?
Is anyone of you going to comment on his
16th place ranking among governors?
He is fiscal conservative?Right?I’m sure
he is,but not as nearly as 15 governors in
front of him,even(horrors) six Democrats.
You must have opinion about this?Don’t you?
Please,let me in,I’m still in dark about Mitch.
I’m sorry,but in my limited peasant vision,
I fail to see the great man in all his glory.
Show me his “greatness” and his great
intellect,which must be far,far superior than
Sarah Palin’s.How do I know?Easy,you guys think so!
Isn’t that proof enough?!
December 27th, 2010 at 3:04 am
One of the reasons Palin quit was because she rightly realised she would have lost re-election which would have ended her political career. The most recent proxy spat with Senator Murkowski in fact showed that she is less popular than her (making her at best the THIRD most popular republican in Alaska!)!
To be fair Romney would not have been re-elected either. But Mitch was – BIG TIME!
I’ll say it again Mitch is Mitt’s only real danger (with JT).
ps sorry but you brought up Palin.
pps I’ve heard that Palin is now being called Ms 66%. And no not for her approval rating!
December 27th, 2010 at 5:05 am
Heath,
Your rambling is incoherent(I’m holding my real thinking),
but you stumbled upon something.
Mitch is good for Indiana,hopefully….I guess….
Sarah Palin is on totally different level,far,far above of
any GOP establishment hack,flack and flunky.
Sarah Palin is like Ronald Reagan,once in a lifetime
conservative American phenomena.Deal with it!Or go nuts!
December 27th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
The only people going nuts are you and the other 0.00000012763 of the population who see Ronald Reagan when Palin comes on the tv.