Haley Barbour, Chris Christie And Scott Walker Would Reported Back Mitch Daniels

An interesting development in the 2012 races. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels continues to flirt with running in 2012, and it appears as though if he gets into the campaign he’ll have the backing of some big Republican names.

INDIANAPOLIS — With 1,100 people chanting “Run Mitch, Run,” Gov. Mitch Daniels took the stage here Thursday night and did something he’s never done before: He introduced his wife Cheri, and then he turned the microphone over to her to address the sold-out crowd.

It was Cheri Daniels’ first-ever speech at a big political event in all the years she has been Indiana’s First Lady. And with speculation over whether her husband will enter the presidential race now at a fever-pitch, her mere presence at the podium for the annual state GOP dinner had everyone searching for clues and hidden meanings. The question was heard over and over: Did her willingness to step into the limelight after years as a reluctant First Lady mean she was on board with Daniels making a bid for the White House?

Daniels, who asked his wife to give the speech, didn’t rule it out.

“This whole business of running for national office–I’m not saying I won’t do it,” he said, triggering loud applause. …

Reflecting what many observers see as weak Republican field, the pressure on Daniels to run has been intense. He has been assured backing from big-money donors who supported George W. Bush, in addition to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, as well as top sitting Republican governors.

Sources tell CBS News popular New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has told Daniels he would back him, as would Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

Here’s video of Daniels talking about the potential for a campaign:

The biggest knock on Mitch Daniels seems to be his controversial call last year for a “truce” on social issues. A lot of social conservatives took that to mean giving up on issues like abortion. I took it to mean more a re-prioritizing of issues. We’re in a national fiscal crisis right now. Like it or not, whether gays are allowed to marry takes a backseat.

I haven’t quite put together my calculus on Daniels just yet, but in a field where someone like Donald Trump is being considered a serious candidate, a serious-minded candidate with the sort of backing Daniels can apparently muster may come as a breath of fresh air to a lot of Republicans.
Fun fact: Daniels’ wife Cheri refers to herself as an “honorary Hooters girl.”