Daniels supporters urge presidency

There has been increased speculation as to whether Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, to some, “My Man Mitch,” will seek the GOP nomination for president in 2012.

Despite Daniel’s continuous rejection of the rumors, U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., is currently not supporting any Republican presidential candidates, hoping Daniels will join the race, according to an article in Politico. 

Daniels has issued several statements both on Fox News Sunday and the Louisville Courier-Journal assuring he is not running for president in the 2012 election, but he will “think about it.” 

Just that comment alone has intrigued thousands of supporters, especially given Daniels’ financial track record for the State of Indiana.

In 2005, Daniels balanced the state budget for the first time in eight years, turning the $600 million deficit he inherited into an annual surplus of $370 million.

Despite declining state revenue during a national recession, Daniels has maintained a balanced budget and has avoided raising state taxes.

“I think that he will have the most fiscally conservative credentials of any candidates in the field if he runs,” said junior Jeff Cummins, internal vice-chairman of the IU
College Republicans.

On the other hand, some are skeptical about Daniels’ policies and decisions made during Indiana’s economic crisis.

In December, Daniels ordered $300 million in kindergarten through 12th grade funding cuts, according to the Indiana State Teachers Association website.

“When you don’t provide for public education in the state of Indiana, you are looking at larger disparities and inequalities, higher dropout rates and the state not performing and meeting national standards, which will affect the future leadership of the state,” said senior Kelly Smith, president of IU College Democrats.

Critics also point out that before the recession Daniels leased a state toll road to a consortium in 2006 for $3.8 billion, according to the Indiana State website. 

“He may have balanced the state budget for a few years by selling a state asset, but now here we are down the road with the financial crisis, and the deficit in Indiana is not looking good, and we don’t have state assets like the toll road bringing in money,” said junior Logan Souder, vice president of policy for IU College Democrats. “I definitely think people will hold that against him.”

More recently, Daniels — a pro-life supporter — received fervent criticism from social conservatives after he told The Weekly Standard he favored a temporary truce on
social issues.

“He is without a doubt a social conservative, he is just more concerned with putting people back to work first,” Cummins said. “Once Americans are back to work and the economy is back in full swing, he will focus on social issues. He will come out in favor of socially conservative values, I have no doubt.”

Whether Daniels will run is still fuzzy, but if he does choose to run, he may be up against former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and Mike Huckabee, a Fox News host and former 2008 presidential candidate.

“On the whole, Mitch Daniels would be a better choice,” said Tara Fleming, press secretary of the IU College Republicans. “Given the situation of the country, we need someone that has experience turning around a financial crisis.”