Governor Of Indiana, Mitch Daniels, Giving Republican Response To State Of The Union

As soon as President Barack Obama exits the House chamber Tuesday evening after giving the State of the Union address, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels will give the official Republican rebuttal to the annual speech.

Daniels, who entered office in 2005 and is in the final year of his last term as governor, is a popular figure in the Republican Party. Despite the wishes of many, Daniels announced last May that he would not run for president in 2012. "In the end, I was able to resolve every competing consideration but one," he said in an email to supporters. "The interests and wishes of my family, is the most important consideration of all. If I have disappointed you, I will always be sorry."

As The Huffington Post's Jon Ward reported last spring, Daniels' decision came as a disappointment to many in his party, who believed that Daniels was a strong fiscal conservative who had the potential to beat Obama in the general election.

"He's a terrific talent," former House Speaker and current GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said of Daniels on CBS's "Face the Nation" last year. "He would have been a very formidable competitor. I mean, I really thought he would be in the frontrunners from day one if he had decided to run."

However, Daniel's post-SOTU wrap-up has put him back in the national consciousness, and many are reiterating past wishes for Daniels to seek higher office.

Prior to his governorship, Daniels was the director of the Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush. He also served as a top executive of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company, Indiana's largest corporation.

Comments

[Big---Time]

11:48 PM on 01/24/2012

Daniel's response must have been pretty darned good, can't get it on video.

[jwalnuts]

10:50 PM on 01/24/2012

State of the Union rebuttal? It didn’t sound as though he’d even heard or read Obama’s address. Blah blah blah. Maybe they should have chosen a firebrand like Tim Pawlenty.

[myplenny]

12:45 PM on 01/25/2012

He looks unhappy, wife ran away and came back with another mouth to feed.

[Silver Lobo]

08:10 PM on 01/24/2012

Sen. Mitch Daniels giving the response to the sotu is just another example of the stupid, narrow minded, idiotic, senseless leadership of the Republican and conservative party. This is a senator that is getting recalled with more signatures of voters than he got elected by. When he gave his sots adress, no one could hear it over all the voters protesting in the state congress building. Yet, this is the guy those on the righjt want to represent their party? Is this the best person they could find to promote the conservative ideals and policies? Were is Jidal? Why not Mar Rubio or Jed Bush? Why NOT Christie? If he is, the Republican party and conservatives are definitely going to lose the pres. election and are is serious need of restructuring. This is further proof that conservatives and Republicans are out of touch with reality!!

[jkejulian]

01:09 PM on 01/24/2012

State of the Union rebuttal speaker, Republican Gov. Daniels, is in one of those Right to Work for Less states, the law that is facilitating the destruction of the middle class. The less money middle class has, the more time and multiple jobs they have to work, and the less time they have to pay attention to how they are being ripped off by "Right to Work" Republicans. The less money the middle class has, the less they can buy, the less companies need to expand. The better pay and health care the middle class has the more money the middle class would have the more they can purchase, then the more jobs are needed to be created to accommodate the demand. The middle class are the true job creators.

[Indyhasitright]

11:45 PM on 01/24/2012

I am born and raised in Indy and it is one of the best places to live in the nation. Relative to other states, Indy has a great income level, low unemployment, and low cost of living. It has one of the lowest crime rates, a balanced budget, and a PUBLIC school system that is as good as the private schools people are forced to pay for in other states. Vote for the man not the party. Mitch knows how to get it done. Check out the Superbowl we are hosting, watch, and learn.

[myplenny]

12:45 PM on 01/25/2012

Peytons getting out.

[OneNationIndivisible]

03:37 AM on 01/24/2012

Director of OMB for the bush mis-administration, which led to the worst Financial Crisis since the Great Depression: what a "Talent"! And, this poster-boy for ridiculous combovers has been chosen to give the "opposite truth" party's response to President Obama's SOTU? Ha! Ha! Ha!

[dcoleman76]

04:25 PM on 01/25/2012

Disgusted with Untruths:
I totally agree. They will not give the President any credit for anything. Which is sad. Then they (Republicans) want us to believe they have the interest of the American people in mind. This is a farce. They speak about separatism and unequal rights and not rights for all of the PEOPLE. They only advocate for the interests of the RICHES Americans. Did you hear Mr. Daniels talk about cutting our Entitlement Programs to balance the budget. If I have earned my entitlements...leave them alone. Balance the budget by having the RICH pay their fair share of taxes. There's only two classes of people, Rich/Poor. You decide who YOU want in the White House, because what they have to select from is meager from my propective. Remember who got us into the mess anyway (JWB). Remember People please...let us not go backward, the President is making progress, but it takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day. May GOD continue to bless and keep this great NATION.