Indiana Gov. Daniels Won't Be Running For President

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels announced early Sunday that he will not be going after the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

The Associated Press reports that in an e-mail sent to supporters just after midnight, Daniels said that as he debated whether to run or not, "I was able to resolve every competing consideration but one. The interests and wishes of my family, is the most important consideration of all. If I have disappointed you, I will always be sorry."

Politico writes that "the announcement by the former Office of Management and Budget director and favorite of much of the Republican establishment will again roil the unsettled GOP field — and likely intensify efforts to convince another major candidate to join the race, such as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush or New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie."

The New York Times' The Caucus blog notes that Daniels "is the latest in a string of prominent Republicans to decline a presidential bid, leaving the field without a clear front-runner less than eight months before the first voting could begin."

Others who have opted not to run include former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and current Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. Still yet to declare her intentions: Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee.

Saturday, business executive Herbert Cain officially kicked off his campaign for the Republican nomination. Another Republican, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is expected to formally announce his candidacy on Monday.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is at or near the top of most GOP polls at this point, but with less than 20 percent support.

Frank James makes sense of the campaign news over at It's All Politics.

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