As Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniel’s
prepares to deliver the Republican response to President Obama’s State of the
Union address tonight, speculation is again surrounding the governor’s plans
for the future. As Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney falters and the Republican
party’s officeholder’s talk openly of the destruction a Newt Gingrich nomination
would bring to the party in November, Daniels is again in the spotlight. Many
are certainly hoping Daniels reconsiders his decision not to run for the
presidency in 2012.
Daniels is a former budget director
for President George W. Bush and fell out of favor with his party’s social
conservatives when he called for a “truce” on social issues in order to advance
polarizing conservative budget cuts primarily to public sector unions. Daniels
declined a run for the presidency last year, but like so many other Republican
presidential possibilities, which has not stopped pundits and party officials
from attempting to draft him into White House bid.
On Tuesday, the Republican Governor’s
Association has released a web ad, “Gov. Mitch Daniels: The Veteran,” which is
only furthering speculation about Daniel’s 2012 plans:
A “draft Daniels” movement has emerged
online in the last 24 hours, and as of this writing, the online petition has
7,803 signatures.
Should Daniels succumb to pressure,
it is theoretically possible that he could make a splash in the race. If he
generated momentum fast, he could circumvent the disadvantage posed by missing
the January primaries. All contests in January have been docked delegates by the
Republican National Committee for moving their primaries up before February 1,
so January’s total awarded delegates is low. Daniels could make a run at Super
Tuesday and the larger states whose filing deadlines are floating or have not
yet passed, and be a formidable force at a brokered convention.
The path to the nomination for
Daniels would be a winding and tricky
one, but it is plausible. That said, Daniel’s declined to make a move when he
had the time to pull together donors and build a national movement, suggesting that
he did not have the stamina for a long, national race. If he didn’t have it
then, it is hard to imagine that he has the stamina required to weather an even
more arduous campaign now.
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