Republicans turn attention to reluctant Daniels [View All]

Source: Indianapolis Star

BAINBRIDGE, Ind. -- Republican Mitch Daniels has repeatedly insisted that his 2008 run for a second term as Indiana's governor was his last election and that he's not interested in the "savagery" of a national campaign.

But like it or not, Daniels' name is being dropped in conservative GOP circles as someone to watch in 2012. Many say Daniels is just what the battered GOP needs, a blend of conservative values, cool demeanor and fiscal discipline.

Some political observers say Daniels is as good a bet as any for a national party reeling from Democrats' solid victory last year and the recent stumbles of former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and two other rising GOP stars -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Nevada Sen. John Ensign.

Palin resigned as Alaska's governor abruptly in July, and an independent investigator said he found probable cause she had violated ethics laws by trading on her position as she sought money for legal fees. Sanford and Ensign admitted extramarital affairs. Another person often mentioned as a contender, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, was widely panned after he delivered the national GOP response to Obama's first address to Congress in February.

Read more: http://www.indystar.com/article/20090831/NEWS05/908310365/Republicans+consider+a+reluctant+Daniels?source=nletter-business

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Mitch has the world's worst comb-over, and wears a lot of hats. He is really short, but he is a millionaire thanks to having been on a corporate board that shorted out public utility stocks shortly before announcing the sale of the electric utility. So the GOP is looking at an inside trader here for 2012. I guess it would give them cover to steal Indiana back with their fraudulent voting machines.