A Hoosier in 2012?

There's a movement underway to draft Indiana governor Mitch Daniels into the 2012 presidential race. He's apparently very well liked in his home state, having been elected to two terms so far, but I don't know if he has a chance at the presidency or even the nomination. He's rather moderate for a Republican, having signed the Healthy Indiana Plan, which, to many of his likely GOP primary opponents, would too closely resemble President Obama's health care reform that is so hated on the right. He also presided over the Office of Management and Budget under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003, during which time a surplus of $236 billion sank to a deficit of $400 billion, not exactly lining up with Republicans' stated goal of fiscal responsibility or the Democrats' actual practice of fiscal responsibility. In his favor, however, he had managed to lower taxes for businesses and homeowners in Indiana, as well as taking steps to create thousands of jobs in that state. If anything, he will appeal to independents, and moderates from both major parties, but who knows what things will look like in 2 years. He's certainly a more appealing candidate than any of these characters:

CNN asked Iowa Republicans leaving their polling places last Tuesday who their likely 2012 favorites were. Romney and Huckabee tied at 21 percent, followed by Palin at 18 percent and Gingrich at 7 percent.

 (Above: Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana. AP photo.)