Daniels still mum on Purdue presidency

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The vote to select Gov. Mitch Daniels as the next president of Purdue University takes place in West Lafayette tomorrow. Daniels will wait until then to talk about his interest in the job.

He still won't confirm that will be his next job, but everything he says indicates that it's true.

He appeared at a jobs announcement Wednesday morning, one that was scheduled at Roche Diagnostics before WISH-TV broke the news that he will enter academia when his government service ends.

Following his participation in the unveiling of 100 new jobs, Daniels agreed to take questions from reporters but said he would not take questions about Purdue.

"With all due respect, governor, can you tell us why you can't address that?" asked 24-Hour News 8's Jim Shella.

Daniels responded: "It's just not appropriate. It's not my - it's not a topic for today."

He did say that he will serve out his term as governor, which ends next January.

"Of course I'm committed to this job, whatever else does or doesn't happen," he said.

Daniels also talked at length about the importance of higher education and defended his record on higher education as governor, saying he cut government to a greater degree than he did funding to colleges.