Mitch Daniels won't run in 2012

Spencer Collins · #1 (**permalink**) 05-22-2011, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels told supporters in an email early Sunday that he will not run for president in 2012, a decision he said ultimately came down to his family's reticence about a campaign.

The announcement by the former Office of Management and Budget director and favorite of much of the Republican establishment will again roil the unsettled GOP field—and likely intensify efforts to convince another major candidate to join the race, such as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush or New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

The Daniels email, obtained by POLITICO, went out from Indiana GOP chief Eric Holcomb, a key Daniels adviser, soon after midnight, with the word "Urgent" in the subject line.

"The following is from Governor Mitch Daniels…." the email began.

“I hope this reaches you before the public news does," Daniels wrote. "If so, please respect my confidence for the short time until I can make it known to all."

"The counsel and encouragement I received from important citizens like you caused me to think very deeply about becoming a national candidate. In the end, I was able to resolve every competing consideration but one, but that, the interests and wishes of my family, is the most important consideration of all. If I have disappointed you, I will always be sorry."

Daniels, who had deep fundraising ties from his time in the Bush administration and his own years in Washington, went on: "If you feel that this was a non-courageous or unpatriotic decision, I understand and will not attempt to persuade you otherwise. I only hope that you will accept my sincerity in the judgment I reached," he wrote.

"Many thanks for your help and input during this period of reflection. Please stay in touch if you see ways in which an obscure Midwestern governor might make a constructive contribution to the rebuilding of our economy and our Republic.”

The email, which went to a list of supporters but not the Indiana GOP's broader email list, was unusual —pols who bow out of campaigns rarely choose to announce it just after midnight on a Saturday.

But it was a reminder that Daniels has always tended to march to the beat of his own political drum, keep his own counsel and do things his own way.

Daniels's wife, Cheri, was widely known to be concerned about the impact a campaign would have on their lives, which have followed an unusual path. Cheri Daniels left her husband and their four young daughters in 1993, married a former sweetheart in California, then returned and remarried Daniels - a set of circumstances that the pair would be unable to avoid talking about in the crucible of a campaign.

Read more: Mitch Daniels won't run in 2012 - Maggie Haberman and Jennifer Epstein - POLITICO.com

And the field narrows.........

WallyWager · #2 (**permalink**) 05-22-2011, 04:05 AM

So another guy who seemed pretty decent isn't running, first Huckabee now Daniels. Damn.

So far we have Herman Cain, who is popular amongst Frank Luntz's focus groups.

Ron Paul, who is popular amongst college kids who don't vote.

Newt Gingrich, who is popular amongst Newt Gingrich.

Mitt Romney, who is popular amongst folks who have a short-term memory.

Gary Johnson, who is a poor man's Ron Paul; although, arguably, given his poor showing on the big day, Ron Paul is the poor man's Ron Paul.

And the rest, you don't even know who they are.

And then there's Sarah Palin, who although hasn't made the decision, says she has the "fire in the belly" for running, unlike Huckabee. She is the joke character in this game.

I'll just save you guys the run-around and tell you directly to run Mitt Romney for 2012, he's your best chance. Looking at state polling, he comes the closest to defeating President Obama on election day. Folks like Gingrich and Palin lose more states at this point than McCain did.

Statewide opinion polling for the United States presidential election, 2012 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Srsly, Palin loses Arizona, Georgia, and Missouri, you guys want THAT pwnage on the GOP?

GottaGo · #3 (**permalink**) 05-22-2011, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WallyWager

So another guy who seemed pretty decent isn't running, first Huckabee now Daniels. Damn.

So far we have Herman Cain, who is popular amongst Frank Luntz's focus groups.

Ron Paul, who is popular amongst college kids who don't vote.

Newt Gingrich, who is popular amongst Newt Gingrich.

Mitt Romney, who is popular amongst folks who have a short-term memory.

Gary Johnson, who is a poor man's Ron Paul; although, arguably, given his poor showing on the big day, Ron Paul is the poor man's Ron Paul.

And the rest, you don't even know who they are.

And then there's Sarah Palin, who although hasn't made the decision, says she has the "fire in the belly" for running, unlike Huckabee. She is the joke character in this game.

I'll just save you guys the run-around and tell you directly to run Mitt Romney for 2012, he's your best chance. Looking at state polling, he comes the closest to defeating President Obama on election day. Folks like Gingrich and Palin lose more states at this point than McCain did.

Statewide opinion polling for the United States presidential election, 2012 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Srsly, Palin loses Arizona, Georgia, and Missouri, you guys want THAT pwnage on the GOP?

Though I may not agree with everything you said here, you said it very well and with much humor!

alan · #4 (**permalink**) 05-22-2011, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WallyWager

So another guy who seemed pretty decent isn't running, first Huckabee now Daniels. Damn.

So far we have Herman Cain, who is popular amongst Frank Luntz's focus groups.

Ron Paul, who is popular amongst college kids who don't vote.

Newt Gingrich, who is popular amongst Newt Gingrich.

Mitt Romney, who is popular amongst folks who have a short-term memory.

Gary Johnson, who is a poor man's Ron Paul; although, arguably, given his poor showing on the big day, Ron Paul is the poor man's Ron Paul.

And the rest, you don't even know who they are.

And then there's Sarah Palin, who although hasn't made the decision, says she has the "fire in the belly" for running, unlike Huckabee. She is the joke character in this game.

I'll just save you guys the run-around and tell you directly to run Mitt Romney for 2012, he's your best chance. Looking at state polling, he comes the closest to defeating President Obama on election day. Folks like Gingrich and Palin lose more states at this point than McCain did.

Statewide opinion polling for the United States presidential election, 2012 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Srsly, Palin loses Arizona, Georgia, and Missouri, you guys want THAT pwnage on the GOP?

You forgot about Tim Pawlenty.

cnredd · #5 (**permalink**) 05-22-2011, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WallyWager

So another guy who seemed pretty decent isn't running, first Huckabee now Daniels. Damn.

So far we have Herman Cain, who is popular amongst Frank Luntz's focus groups.

Ron Paul, who is popular amongst college kids who don't vote.

Newt Gingrich, who is popular amongst Newt Gingrich.

Mitt Romney, who is popular amongst folks who have a short-term memory.

Gary Johnson, who is a poor man's Ron Paul; although, arguably, given his poor showing on the big day, Ron Paul is the poor man's Ron Paul.

And the rest, you don't even know who they are.

And then there's Sarah Palin, who although hasn't made the decision, says she has the "fire in the belly" for running, unlike Huckabee. She is the joke character in this game.

I'll just save you guys the run-around and tell you directly to run Mitt Romney for 2012, he's your best chance. Looking at state polling, he comes the closest to defeating President Obama on election day. Folks like Gingrich and Palin lose more states at this point than McCain did.

Statewide opinion polling for the United States presidential election, 2012 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Srsly, Palin loses Arizona, Georgia, and Missouri, you guys want THAT pwnage on the GOP?

Obama supporters are doing everything they can to dictate the Republican primaries...

winston53660 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-22-2011, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnredd

Obama supporters are doing everything they can to dictate the Republican primaries...

The goal is to get Obama on the Republican ticket too. BWAAAAHAHAHA

cnredd · #7 (**permalink**) 05-22-2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winston53660

The goal is to get Obama on the Republican ticket too. BWAAAAHAHAHA

Can't happen...

Republicans have a tradition of getting congressional approval for wars they start that last longer than 60 days...

WallyWager · #8 (**permalink**) 05-22-2011, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnredd

Obama supporters are doing everything they can to dictate the Republican primaries...

Well, all I can at least, and all I can do is give some sound advice from my perspective on the primary race. You can take it as just me putting my two cents in, or my underhanded plot to dictate the GOP primaries by forcing millions of Americans to choose the weakest candidate in order to improve Obama's chances at re-election. Your choice.

Of course, if I were trying the latter, I'd being singing praises of Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin.

WallyWager · #9 (**permalink**) 05-22-2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan

You forgot about Tim Pawlenty.

So did he.

alan · #10 (**permalink**) 05-22-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnredd

Obama supporters are doing everything they can to dictate the Republican primaries...

Do you mean the press?

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