Posted on 09/23/2009 2:47:27 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
INDIANAPOLIS | Did Hoosiers get a first look last week at The Ticket?
Mitch Daniels. Jeb Bush. 2012?
Both Republicans frequently deny seeking higher office, but each man also told The Times the other would be a strong candidate for a presidential run.
"If he wants it, sure," Bush said of Daniels' national prospects.
"I honestly believe he is the best governor in the country in terms of the courage of his convictions, intelligence, strategic thinking," Bush said.
At the same time, Daniels said he's disappointed Bush says he's ruled out a future in government.
"I understand his answer, but I hope one day he'll rule it in," Daniels said.
"I think, honestly, he's the best I've seen in either party. He's smart, very principled, very open-minded, very practical, and he's proven in both private and public life that he can get results," Daniels said of Bush.
Daniels, an Indianapolis Republican who won re-election in 2008, is barred by term limits from running for governor again in 2012. Bush, the brother of former President George W. Bush and son of former President George H. W. Bush, served as governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007.
Bush now heads the Foundation for Excellence in Education, which promotes school-reform plans, as he did at Indiana's Education Roundtable in Indianapolis on Wednesday.
"I can tell him there's life after being governor," Bush said of Daniels. "It may not be as cool as being governor, but there's life after that."
Speaking to reporters after the event, Daniels and Bush looked comfortable standing together at the same podium, each wearing a single-breasted dark suit and blue shirt. While Bush stands a full head taller than Daniels, their friendly rapport was evident in the casual back-and-forth conversation between the two Republicans.
Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock says he hopes both men, but especially Daniels, will seriously consider a national run in 2012.
"I would love to see Gov. Daniels do it. He has so many qualities that this country is absolutely crying out for right now," Mourdock said.
And with Daniels at the top of the ticket, Mourdock sees Bush as a good pick for VP.
"When you start talking about vice presidents, oftentimes it isn't so much what they can do, it's what can they bring," Mourdock said.
In addition to Florida's 27 electoral votes, Mourdock said Bush also brings an experienced "Bush organization" that's already put two family members in the White House. Daniels was budget director under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003.
But Purdue University political scientist William Shaffer cautions it's probably too early to be speculating on 2012.
"That's a long way away. Who would have thought at this point as far in advance of the 2008 election that Barack Obama would even be a candidate," Shaffer said. "The world will change presidential politics between now and then."
But should he run, Daniels' biggest problem is that he's largely unknown. Shaffer said.
"That's one of the big hurdles, obviously. If somebody jumps in, they really have to become known. You'd think a governor of a state would be, but they're not, they're really not," Shaffer said.
At the same time, Daniels' relative national anonymity could also prove to be an asset, Shaffer said.
"I think part of it reflects a weakness of the Republican Party right at this point in time. Mitch Daniels might look good to a lot of people when you also mention Sarah Palin, for example," he said.
Daniels, who in his final re-election ad vowed that "governor is the only office I've run for or ever will," left the state Saturday for a 10-day trade mission to Asia. He's hoping to secure new jobs and investments in Indiana from companies based in China and Japan.
On the one hand, that is what governors do. On the other, foreign negotiations sure look rather presidential.
The Bush name is toxic in national politics for at least a half-life of 200 years.
Sorry Jeb. You might have made a better prez than your bro had the party followed your family’s advice put your name up first, but now that GWB’s trashed the family name, forget about rising to the top yourself -— EVER.
The first two Bush’s weren’t exactly conservatives. Let’s see if we can’t get us one of those.
I wouldn’t let Jeb Bush lead my dog to a fire hydrant.
I don't know who Mitch Daniels is. But Jeb Bush - NO!!!!!!!
The American people have a short term memory.
The ONE thing we can agree with The Reverrrrrennnnd Jackson on. LOL
Not with Bush they won’t. It’s over.
No more Bushes, please. It’s going to be difficult enough to ever vote for a Republican again as it is.
A potted plant would probably make a better POTUS than George.
Not short enough for a Bush resurgence by 2012. Far too many Republicans loathe the way Bush mis-managed his time at the helm, and the stench will stick to his brother long enough to scuttle any hope he may have had for high office.
GWB proved himself to be a big spending, big goverment, ruling class elitist with very odd ideas about foregn policy interventionism and fiscal sanity that have little to do with conservative ideas. His family name is toast for a long, long time.
Spare us the mistake.
Should Mitch decide to run, he'd get my vote in a heartbeat. He's very good in crowds, a strong speaker, and he's gotten a lot of attention for several Op-Ed pieces he has written.
No, to neither (they’re conserservative), but not that conservative, there are better candidates such as Ron Paul or Mike Pence or Jim DeMint!
No way in hell.
LLS
jeb is 100% pro amnesty.
LLS
Sure, let’s have Jeb for 4 years, then Michelle, then Jenna, then Chelsea...
Read my lips: No money, no support, no vote.
Hell no! They keep running weak RINO’s up the flag pole. We aren’t saluting, unless you count a two finger salute.
NOPE.
Make that 'NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NONO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!'
I don't care how good he may be, America WILL NOT elect another Bush, just as they would not elect Newt Gingrich or Dick Cheney. They're names have been forever poisoned by the hatchet work done on them by the entities formerly known as the MSM.
Nominating another Bush would be the stupidest thing the Republicans ever did, and, given their recent history, that's saying a lot!
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