Mitch Daniels

[Farage]

I have a couple of questions about him.

-What are his stances on issues?
-Does he appeal to the TGea Party? Why?
-What could be his platform in 2012?
-Could he carry the Midwest? How?
-Could he appeal to Latinos?

And also why do a lot of people consider that he's stronger than Romney, Palin, Huckabee ...

[Mr. Morden]

Read this:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/print/articles/ride-along-mitch

It should answer at least a few of your questions.

[useful idiot]

In addition to that article there's this hour long C-SPAN Q&A

It's pretty decent, it shows clips from that MitchTV thing he did during his two campaigns.

[SvenssonRS]

I can answer the Tea Party question: yes.

Why is that? Well, according to some of the sources citing his hints at a presidential run, he's cut government down in Indiana by large margins since he was first elected. That's basically the core of the Tea Party beliefs - taking as much government as possible out of our daily lives. Thus, someone like Daniels, who went as far as to slash the Indiana state government, has a good starting point with them.

[Dgov]

1.  Probably standard R fiscally, but he's not the most popular guy with the Social Conservatives.  If he runs, he'll probably need a Strong SoCon as a running-mate to pacify the base.
2.Yes, for a couple of reasons.  First off, he did the unthinkable in modern politics and actually balanced the budget of his state without raising net taxes (he raised some and lowered others at different times, and as a whole every tax level either went down or stayed the same).  Also, he created an tried out his own version of Health-care reform (Health savings accounts), which makes him especially appealing for the tea party crowd.
3.  Almost certainly balancing the budget and reducing the size and scope of government.  fiscal issues are likely to dominate 2012 anyway though, so I'd think nay republican would run on a platform like that.
4.  Aside from Illinois?  Certainly.  He's already a relatively popular Midwestern governor, so carrying the rest of the region (Bush was  close in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota anyway, a 2-3 point improvement on his scores would flip almost all of the region).  And if things go really bad for Obama, Daniels might get a "next-door" boost like what Obama got in Indiana in 2008.
5.  Hard to say.  I can't see him under-performing McCain among them unless he loses the general by a considerable margin.  As for any specific pluses or minuses, he has none that I'm aware of.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

What could be his platform in 2012?
Brutal honesty about where we are heading as a nation. Probably cost him the election, but it would be refreshing.


Could he carry the Midwest? How?
1. Yes. He has the best employement rate in the Region.
2. He has said that a temporary truce should be called on many social issues untill we are out of the Ecomomic abyss. Which resembles what Bob McDonnells campaign did (avoid them as much as possible). It could win back a lot of people who should be voting Republican but became disenchanted with the focus on pleasing the Evangelical Base in the South. But don't worry, he is a Christian and is firmly Pro-Life. This will help win voters in many areas but especially in places like the Detroit and Chicago suburbs in the Midwest.


Could he appeal to Latinos?
Well he does speak fluent Spanish. And could potentiall have strong surrogates like Brian Sandoval, Susan Martinez, and Marco Rubio hitting the stump for him in NV, NM, and FL.

And also why do a lot of people consider that he's stronger than Romney, Palin, Huckabee ...
Because each one of them has been caricatured and has a strong faction of Republicans that despised them for one reason or another. Daniels can appeal to a desire to move beyond the division created in 2008 and unify them as well as bring back the saner Ron Paul supporters (he has said some cuts to the defense budget have to be made and his truce on social issues, to use his term, will help.). He also is well liked by establishment Republicans while still appealing to the Tea Party and has the potential to become a Tea Party champion while bringing the intelligence of a policy wonk. All while still being a Washington Outsider for the past 6 years (8 years by 2012).

[Derek]

go to www.ontheissues.org and you can find any politician, celebrity, or president's views.

[SvenssonRS]

go to www.ontheissues.org and you can find any politician, celebrity, or president's views.

It would help if Daniels had more than four recorded positions there.

[Sewer]

That's basically the core of the Tea Party beliefs - taking as much government as possible out of our daily lives.

lol

[pbrower2a]

I can answer the Tea Party question: yes.

Why is that? Well, according to some of the sources citing his hints at a presidential run, he's cut government down in Indiana by large margins since he was first elected. That's basically the core of the Tea Party beliefs - taking as much government as possible out of our daily lives. Thus, someone like Daniels, who went as far as to slash the Indiana state government, has a good starting point with them.

Corporate power intensifies, and corporate power can be just as demanding and demeaning as any.

[sg0508]

I never thought Daniels was ever that popular in IN.  Maybe I'm wrong though.

[justW353]

I never thought Daniels was ever that popular in IN.  Maybe I'm wrong though.

He's the most popular Governor in the country...>70% approval.

[sg0508]

Really?  I know he had a tough first couple years and the timezone deal early on hurt him, but good for him.

Then again, he only won his 2nd term with 57%, which in IN for a re-election campaign, isn't that great.

[redcommander]

I never thought Daniels was ever that popular in IN.  Maybe I'm wrong though.

He's the most popular Governor in the country...>70% approval.

I thought Palin was. Her approval ratings in Alaska were above 80%.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

I never thought Daniels was ever that popular in IN.  Maybe I'm wrong though.

He's the most popular Governor in the country...>70% approval.

I thought Palin was. Her approval ratings in Alaska were above 80%.

Techinclly she's not govenor anymore, but still.

Shame Alaskans are so dumb.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Really?  I know he had a tough first couple years and the timezone deal early on hurt him, but good for him.

Then again, he only won his 2nd term with 57%, which in IN for a re-election campaign, isn't that great.

Well he was one of the most unpopular down there with Matt Blunt, and Ernie Fletcher in the 30's in 2006 and 2007. So his 20 point win while Obama ended up winning the state is impressive.

One of the few governors whose popularity increased while the economy went to hell. I remember back in 2006 they blamed the GOP loses in the state on "Daniels sucky approval numbers and unpopular decisions".

[Mr. Morden]

I never thought Daniels was ever that popular in IN.  Maybe I'm wrong though.

He's the most popular Governor in the country...>70% approval.

I thought Palin was. Her approval ratings in Alaska were above 80%.

Palin hasn't been governor for a year, and her approval ratings at the time she resigned were nowhere near 80%.  She hasn't had 80% approval ratings since 2008, pre-VP run.

[California8429]

I never thought Daniels was ever that popular in IN.  Maybe I'm wrong though.

He's the most popular Governor in the country...>70% approval.

I thought Palin was. Her approval ratings in Alaska were above 80%.

Techinclly she's not govenor anymore, but still.

Shame Alaskans are so dumb.

No. Just shame she changed into a different person once inthe spotlight

[The Mikado]

I never thought Daniels was ever that popular in IN.  Maybe I'm wrong though.

He's the most popular Governor in the country...>70% approval.

Wait, what's Hoeven's approvals?  Just yesterday I referred to him as the most popular governor and I don't want to be a liar.

[Derek]

Daniels would flip OH, MN, WI, and IA which would be enough to win a close election. The GOP is gaining 8-10 EV from the census and will be winning FL.

[Yelnoc]

I never thought Daniels was ever that popular in IN.  Maybe I'm wrong though.

He's the most popular Governor in the country...>70% approval.

Wait, what's Hoeven's approvals?  Just yesterday I referred to him as the most popular governor and I don't want to be a liar.

According to Wikipedia, his approval rating was 87% in December of 2009, though I don't know what it is now.

[Derek]

I never thought Daniels was ever that popular in IN.  Maybe I'm wrong though.

He's the most popular Governor in the country...>70% approval.

Wait, what's Hoeven's approvals?  Just yesterday I referred to him as the most popular governor and I don't want to be a liar.

According to Wikipedia, his approval rating was 87% in December of 2009, though I don't know what it is now.

87?

[justW353]

Palin had 55% approval when she left office.

I'm not sure about Hoeven, but I've read numerous articles citing Daniels as the most popular Governor.

[Dgov]

I'm not sure about Hoeven, but I've read numerous articles citing Daniels as the most popular Governor.

Interesting that the two states with balanced budgets have the two most popular governors . . . .

[Derek]

Daniels can compare his budget to the federal budget.