Mitch Daniels says 'No' to 2012 Republican presidential bid, citing family objections

In a humble 164-word email to supporters early Sunday morning, Indiana's Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels said he would not pursue his party's nomination for 2012.

His decision came as a shock to many mainstream Republicans, who knew of the objections of his wife Cherie to the personal rigors and media scrutinty of a national campaign.

But they thought those concerns had been overcome in recent days of quiet lobbying.

Not so.

Here's the full Daniels message text, that will further roil the GOP field:

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels non-candidacy message to supporters

I hope this reaches you before the public news does. If so, please respect my confidence for the short time until I can make it known to all.

The counsel and encouragement I received from important citizens like you caused me to think very deeply about becoming a national candidate. 

In the end, I was able to resolve every competing consideration but one, but that, the interests and wishes of my family, is the most important consideration of all. If I have disappointed you, I will always be sorry. 

If you feel that this was a non-courageous or unpatriotic decision, I understand and will not attempt to persuade you otherwise. I only hope that you will accept my sincerity in the judgment I reached.

Many thanks for your help and input during this period of reflection.  Please stay in touch if you see ways in which an obscure Midwestern governor might make a constructive contribution to the rebuilding of our economy and our Republic.    #### 

But you can say Yes to following The Ticket via Twitter alerts of each new Ticket item. Or click this: @latimestot. Our Facebook Like page is over here. We're also available on Kindle. Use the ReTweet buttons above to share any item with family and friends, while you can.

 

Comments

[teapartydoc]

He's a good governor, but believe me: this is no big loss.

[Mike Mangan]

Actually his wife whacked him with a frying pan when he said he had decided to run. Sixteen stitches later and he changed his mind, "citing family objections."

:)

[claudine willis]

Daniels made a wise decision. He put his family first.

[Fat Man]

God bless Mitch Daniels and his family. From what we have learned publicly, his wife and children have been through quite a bit.

The way the Democrats and the so called "Main Steam Media" practice the politics of personal destruction, their personal attacks on Daniels, his wife, and children would have been unremitting and unconstrained by facts or decency.

I, for one, am happy that Gov. Daniels has chosen to spare his family the ordeal of a Presidential campaign.

[Indy1]

He goes into the Whipped Man Hall of Shame in the special wing (for those who weren't allowed by their wife to serve the country as president) along with Colin Powell. Pathetic!

[Disappointed in Mitch]

Yes, this decision was non-courageous and unpatriotic. It took 3 months for Mitch to capitulate to "the great red menace" he invoked at CPAC.

[Dennis]

Wise choice. In a year where most republican contenders cannot avoid stepping into piles of doggy-do as they scramble to the sacraficial altar of the GOP's nomination, Mitch chooses not to offer up himself or his family as sacraficial lambs for a party that actually saw its reflection in the likes of the Donald. Smart man.

[Free Online Astrology]

Any Republican running on a platform of cutting Medicare and Social Security is playing Russian roulette with a semi automatic hand gun. You lose before you start.

[Just Don]

Like him or hate him, I think you have to respect the tone and humility in this message. Mitch Daniels was being wooed by all the "big guns" the establishment could throw at him - and he had the courage of his convictions to put his ego aside and do what he thought was best for himself and his family.

I'm not at all sure I would have supported him if he had run (I'm a Cain guy, myself... check him out ;o) ) - but I certainly respect him more today based on this bow out.