Barbour, Daniels wait for spring

Haley Barbour, Mitch Daniels Put Off Presidential Announcement Until Spring
ABC News’ Michael Falcone reports: Here are two more clues that the 2012 Presidential Campaign is going to get off to a late start: two potential GOP Candidates acknowledged this week that if they decide to run, they won’t jump in until the spring. “I think the decision has to come at the end of this General Assembly session, if not before. No later than that,” Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels told WANE-TV in Ft. Wayne on Wednesday. (The state’s General Assembly sessio

Daniels will decide on presidential bid before May
Washington (CNN) - Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is setting a deadline for when he must decide whether to seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. Daniels, a favorite among Republican insiders who respect his fiscally conservative record, said Wednesday that he must figure out his plans by the end of April, when Indiana's legislative session is slated to wrap up. "I think the decision has to come at the end of this General Assembly session, if not before. No later than that," Daniels to...

Indiana Gov. Daniels will decide on 2012 bid in April
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) said that he'll likely decide on whether or not he'll run for president sometime by the end of April. The dark-horse contender for the GOP nomination in 2012 said he'd decide on whether or not to run for the White House after his state's legislature wraps up its session next spring. "I think the decision has to come at the end of this General Assembly session, if not before. No later than that," Daniels told Indiana news station WANE. "In fairness to people fr...

GOP Pulse: Slow Walking to 2012
Thune dips his feet in New Hampshire: The Rapid City Journal notes that Sen. John Thune (R-SD) is giving a Radio Interview with New Hampshire Radio Station WKXL. "While Iowa is nearby South Dakota and shares many of the same issues, New Hampshire is another ballgame entirely, and it's hard to see why else Thune would be doing in an interview with a New Hampshire Radio Station other than to get himself in front of an important primary state." Gingrich talks up Haley before visit: In an interview...

Daniels to make Presidential Decision Next Spring
wane.com reports: Indianapolis, Ind. (WANE) - In four-and-a-half months, we will know for sure whether Mitch Daniels is running for president. That’s what the Governor told NewsChannel 15 during an interview at his Statehouse office in Indianapolis Wednesday afternoon. “I think the decision has to come at the end of this General Assembly session, if not before. No later than that,” saidDaniels . “In fairness to people from all over the place -many of whom I’...

No. No No No No No No No. NO!!!
Republican Indiana Governor and privatization enthusiast Mitch Daniels says he will decide this spring whether he'll run for president. "I think the decision has to come at the end of this General Assembly session, if not before. No later than that," said Daniels. "In fairness to people from all over the place - many of whom I've only read about before - who like this idea [of Daniels running for president], I owe them some kind of an answer."Indeed. And that answer should be NO! I've expressed ...

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joins Don Wade and Roma
On December 16th, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joined Don Wade and Roma to discuss the omnibus bill. How does he feel about the omnibus bill? What does he think about Earmarks? Would he have handled the meeting with CEOs differently than Obama? Is it a good idea to borrow money for pensions? Your central source for everything from WLS' flagship programs - The Don Wade & Roma Morning Show, The Cisco Cotto Show and The Roe Conn Show with Richard Roeper - as well as breaking newsmaker interviews...

Daniels Keeps the Door Open for 2012
The Republican Governor of Indiana took a break from shoveling snow to talk with WLS Don and Roma this morning (Audio). He blasted the $1.2 Trillion omnibus spending bill Dems want to cram through, and while noting Earmarks are only a small portion of the federal Budget, pointed out he had objected to them early on when he had served as W's budget director nearly 10 years ago. They were just picking up steam then and we've seen the abuse, attaching them to PIGS of bills as sweeteners to push b...

FB Watch
Arizona Rep. Jeff Flake discusses Earmarks and his hopes for the creation of a subcommittee on investigations. Michelle Rhee, former chancellor of Washington, D.C. schools, discusses the rationale behind judging teachers on performance and the new non-profit organization Students First. Neil Friedman, president of Mattel Brands, discusses 'Singamajigs' and other popular toys for this year. Indiana Gov. on Shrinking Government Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels discusses politics in his home stat...

Whats Mike Pence going to do?
Mike Pence has already announced that he’ll step down from his leadership post as the Chairman of the House Republican Conference.  So what does that mean? Maybe not much.  Maybe it means that he wants to free up some time for family or other interests. Now there is speculation that he might have his sights set on other aspirations besides the United States Congress. Indiana will soon be voting for a new Governor, as term limited Governor Mitch Daniel’s term will end in 201...

Indiana buys 15 THINK City cars
Published: Dec. 16, 2010 at 5:04 PM ELKHART, Ind., Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Indiana purchased 15 electrically-powered, zero-emission THINK City passenger vehicles Thursday that will be tested in State Parks. The vehicles designed in Scandinavia, were assembled at a THINK Manufacturing plant in Elkhart, Ind., and are designed to fit into fleet vehicle sales, THINK Chief Executive Officer Barry Engle said. "Our delivery today is part of a larger effort to help transform the U.S. light-duty vehicle fleet f...

The VERY Wide Open 2012 GOP Presidential Race
Despite the persistent myth that the Republican rank-and-file are all patiently waiting to be told by Great Big Grownups which leader to follow in 2012 (you know, a Great Big Grownup Candidate like Mitch Daniels or Haley Barbour or John Thune) there's remarkably little evidence that conservative Activists, the true rulers of the GOP, are converging behind any particular candidate. For a good indication of the landscape, check out the reader poll recently conducted at the highy influential rig...

Poll: "D.C. Elites" Say Sarah Palin Unqualified to Be President
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (Credit: Getty Images) Well-to-do Washingtonians are far less likely than the general American public to believe Sarah Palin qualified to be president - and an overwhelming majority of them believe the former Alaska governor is actually a negative influence on U.S. politics as a whole, according to a Politico poll released Wednesday. The results of two separate surveys conducted Dec. 3-8, one of which sampled 1,000 people nationwide with a 3.1 margin of erro...

And the Winner of the FI$CY Is
By Patrick O'Connor A coalition of Budget watchdogs announced the winners of the first annual FI$CY awards on Thursday. And the winners are… Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels , a potential Candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012; Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D., N.D.); and Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.), the incoming chairman of the House Budget Committee. What is the FI$CY Award, you ask. It’s the latest in a long line of made-for-the-media gimmicks to draw attention ..

Starting Lineup: Start Your Engines
Good Friday morning and welcome to the Starting Lineup. On the radar today: The Iowa GOP sets the date for its presidential Straw Poll and a coinciding debate; Haley Barbour heading to CPAC; a potentially potent "Draft Sarah Palin" group registers with the FEC; Baron Hill passes on the Indiana Governor's race and Jay Nixon lays the groundwork for his 2012 re-election bid in Missouri. A quick scheduling note: The Starting Lineup will be going dark for the holidays starting next Monday. We wish y...

Gingrich headlining South Carolina GOP dinner
Washington (CNN) - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is returning to South Carolina Thursday to headline the Spartanburg Republican Party's Bronze Elephant Dinner. Gingrich has appeared in the "First-in-the-South" presidential primary state repeatedly in the last year, most recently in October, when he hosted a crowded town hall in Greenville just before Election Day. The potential presidential contender gave an interview to the Spartanburg Herald-Journal ahead of Thursday's trip and spoke warm...

Local Democratic Lawmakers Keep Realizing They're Republicans
Will the last Georgia Democrat to leave the state party headquarters please turn out the lights? The Democratic defections continue in the Georgia Legislature.State Rep. Bubber Epps on Monday became the latest Democratic state lawmaker to switch his allegiance to the Republican Party . . . Epps is the eighth Democratic state lawmaker to switch sides since the Nov. 2 General Election. Republicans now hold 113 seats in the 180-member House. Democrats control 64 seats, there is one independent an...

Poll: Obama Tops Leading GOP Challengers, Loses to Generic Opponent
President Obama trounces the frontrunners for the Republican presidential nomination in hypothetical 2012 matchups polled by Penn Schoen Berland -- but against an unnamed generic Republican Candidate, he comes up short. In the survey, Obama beat out several prominent Republicans by at least six points, and by as much as 21. Mike Huckabee came closest, losing to Obama 40%-34%. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was next closest, losing to Obama by seven points, 40%-33%. Sarah Palin, who has ...

Priebus draws more early support than Steele in RNC chair race
He may have the edge in surprise after he shocked many with his decision to run for a Second Term, but RNC chairman Michael Steele may already be on shaky ground for retaining his current job. Former Wisconsin GOP Chairman Reince Priebus is mounting a serious bid to unseat Steele and currently holds the edge headed into the Jan. 14 meeting where the next chairman will be chosen. According to a whip count from The Hotline, 13 RNC delegates have publicly declared their support for Priebus, whereas...

Toxic chemical releases down 18 percent in Indiana
State and federal environmental officials say overall releases of Toxic Chemicals to the environment by companies in Indiana decreased in 2009 compared with the previous year. The Times of Munster reports the 2009 Toxics Release Inventory released Thursday shows releases in Indiana decreased by 20.6 million pounds, or 18 percent. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report finds Indiana's releases roughly divided between the Manufacturing and electric industries. Manufacturing reduced releas...

The Political Scoop
Here are the latest little political tidbits for your amusement and entertainment. My very reliable Republican sources are telling me the apparent front runners to replace Murray Clark as the head of the Indiana Republican Party are Ann Hathaway and 6th District Chair Ted Ogle.  Also mentioned in the running are Kevin Kellams, Cam Savage and Eric Holcomb. Speaking of  State Chairman, it's still unclear how long Democrat Dan Parker will stay at his job.  The word on the street has ...

Obama: Transparency and the rule of law...
...will be the touchstones of this presidency. Reason.tv: What’s the Biggest Threat to Free Speech? - Gutfeld, Breitbart, Gov. Gary Johnson, Stagliano and More Sound Off - What’s the biggest threat to free speech? Reason.tv asks a cavalcade of politicians, Journalists, filmmakers and content creators ranging from former Gov. ... Austrian Man Fined for Yodelling Near Muslims - Britain’s Telegraph reports: Helmut Griese, 63, was found Guilty of “ridiculing”...

Poll Watch: PPP (D) 2012 Wisconsin GOP Primary
PPP (D) 2012 Wisconsin GOP Primary Sarah Palin 21% (18%) Mike Huckabee 18% (15%) Mitt Romney 17% (12%) Newt Gingrich 13% (14%) Tim Pawlenty 10% (8%) Ron Paul 4% John Thune 3% (1%) Mitch Daniels 2% (2%) Someone else/Undecided 12% (28%) Among Conservatives Sarah Palin 23% (20%) Mike Huckabee 18% (14%) Mitt Romney 16% (12%) Newt Gingrich 14% (16%) Tim Pawlenty 9% (8%) Ron Paul 4% John Thune 3% (1%) Mitch Daniels 2% (2%) Someone else/Undecided 11% (26%) Among Moderates Mike Huckabee 20% (

Poll Watch: PPP (D) 2012 Ohio GOP Primary
PPP (D) 2012 Ohio GOP Primary Sarah Palin 21% (20%) Mike Huckabee 19% (17%) Newt Gingrich 18% (19%) Mitt Romney 15% (14%) Ron Paul 6% Mitch Daniels 5% (3%) Tim Pawlenty 3% (6%) John Thune 2% (0%) Someone else/Undecided 11% (18%) Among Conservatives Sarah Palin 24% ( 21% ) Newt Gingrich 21% ( 21% ) Mike Huckabee 18% (19%) Mitt Romney 14% (13%) Mitch Daniels 4% (2%) Ron Paul 4% Tim Pawlenty 4% (6%)  John Thune 2% (0%) Someone else/Undecided 10% (15%) Among Moderates Mike Huckabee 23

And the 'Fiscy Award' Goes To...
ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports: They’re not quite the Grammies, or even the Emmys, but it may just be the award that matters during this era of staggering Budget Deficits.  We’re talking about the “Fiscy Awards” - a new award given to the political leaders who have shown the greatest “Fiscal Responsibility.” With the federal Debt no more than $13 Trillion, you’d think the Fiscy Award committee would have a tough time finding somebody in governmen