Mitch Daniels not running for president

By Jim Shella

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH/AP) -Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels announced early Sunday morning he does not intend to seek the Republican nomination to run for president of the United States.

Daniels made the announcement  via e-mail to supporters early Sunday morning.

"In the end, I was able to resolve every competing consideration but one," Daniels said, disclosing his decision in an e-mail 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."

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

Now that Mitch Daniels has taken a pass on the 2012 race for President will his life slow down?
Don’t bet on it. Look for Daniels to choose a GOP candidate to throw his support behind. Then look for him to maintain a voice in the 2012 debate.

Daniels has little more than a year and a half to serve out as governor. The budget for the next two years is in place and there will be just one 10 week session of the Indiana General Assembly between now and the time he leaves office. He has time to spend on national politics and likely will seek to use some of the political capital he built up while considering a run.

And there is one more possibility; he could still land on the GOP ticket as a running mate.