Indiana was pretty weird that year. Mike Pence also won the governor’s race by only 49%-47%, when I figured he’d win that pretty handily.
Despite IN being GOP-leaning, 2012 was the first time since 1980 that one GOP Governor managed to succeed another. It was also the first time since 1940 that the victor received less than 50% of the vote (Democrat Henry Schricker won 49%). I expect Pence will probably do better in 2016 (presuming he doesn’t end up as a dark horse nominee on the Presidential ticket).