GOP Presidential Primary

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-Ind.) suggested Tuesday he might not seek the 2012 Republican nomination for president.

Daniels, whose name regularly appears on shortlists for the GOP nod, said that he is only considering running.

"I wouldn't hold your breath for that," the Northwest Times of Indiana reported him saying. "A lot of people have asked me to think about it, so we will."

In the same interview, though, Daniels showed more than a little willingness to criticize the Obama administration.

"This administration, it's almost like they were on a mission to kill the private sector," Daniels said.

But Daniels's feelings toward the White House were not entirely negative either, perhaps another sign that he is hesitant about challenging President Obama. On the recent appointment of JPMorgan Chase executive William Daley as new White House chief of staff, Daniels said Obama made a good choice.

"I know his reputation well and he's a very well-balanced, responsible fellow," Daniels, the former director of the Office of Management and Budget, said.

Daniels is one of a number of Republican governors who have shown some interest in running for president. Other names include former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (Minn.), former Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.),  former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (Alaska), and Gov. Haley Barbour (Miss.).

A recent survey shows Mike Huckabee remains the darling of Iowa Republicans.

The former Arkansas governor has been taciturn about whether he plans to run again in 2012 for the GOP presidential nomination, but that hasn't tempered enthusiasm for him in the lead-off caucus state. 

Huckabee, who came out on top in the 2008 Iowa caucuses, remains the front-runner, according to a new survey by Public Policy Polling. He took 30 percent of the vote compared to 18 percent for Mitt Romney, who was runner-up in 2008. 

Huckabee won Iowa in 2008 with 34 percent of support from delegates to 25 percent for Romney, who outspent his rival by millions of dollars. 

Sarah Palin was in third in the PPP poll, with 15 percent of the vote, while Newt Gingrich took 13 percent and Texas Rep. Ron Paul had 6 percent.

Former Minnestoa Gov. Tim Pawlenty had support from only 4 percent of respondents, while 3 percent said they were backing Sen. John Thune (S.D.). Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels was backed by only 1 percent.

PPP, a Democratic-leaning firm, surveyed 494 usual Iowa Republican primary voters from Jan. 7-9. The poll's margin of error was 4.4 percent.

Moreover, the poll showed that Huckabee was the second choice of a plurality of respondents — another good sign if he decides to run again. Should their first-choice candidates fail to become viable at the precinct caucuses, 19 percent said they'd gravitate to Huckabee, 9 percent said Romney, 13 percent said Palin and 12 percent said Gingrich.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) will visit Iowa later this month as speculation heats up over whether or not he will for for president.

The Des Moines Register reported Tuesday that Gingrich will speak at a renewable energy summit on Jan. 25.

The Iowa caucuses are the nation's first presidential primary contests and Gingrich's visit is likely to stoke talk that he could enter the 2012 GOP primary. Gingrich has said that he could announce a decision to run as early as February.

So far, no major GOP candidate has officially entered the race.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) — another potential candidate — is also scheduled to visit Iowa, just five days after Gingrich.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio would turn down the chance of being on the 2012 Republican presidential ticket. 

The newly elected Republican said he has no interest in being his party's vice presidential nominee. 

He explained his reasoning to Panama City radio host Burnie Thompson: "To be the senator from Florida is a big job. In addition to the votes you take in Washington of national importance, our state has a multitude of issues. 

"I mean, it will soon be the third largest state in the country and perhaps the most complex in the country in terms of the set of issues it faces. In order to do that job, and do it well, you've got have to have 100 percent focus on it," Rubio said, according to the St. Petersburg Times. 

"You don't have time to sit around and daydream. ... I want to be a U.S. Senator because I believe I can make a difference from that position. ... It's flattering sometimes, but that's about it."

Rubio is one of the most prominent new Republican members of Congress, having defeated Gov. Charlie Crist and Democrat Kendrick Meek in a three-way race. His candidacy drew national attention and became a cause celebre for the Tea Party movement. 

South Dakota Sen. John Thune (R) will travel Saturday to Missouri to give the keynote speech at the state GOP's annual dinner.

Thune is often mentioned as a possible 2012 presidential candidate, but he's made relatively few maneuvers toward a run as other possible contenders are increasingly jockeying for attention.    

Missouri's primary isn't in the early 2012 window, but the state's Republicans are still influential in the nominating process.

"Over the years, Missouri’s Lincoln Days celebration has attracted some of the biggest names in national politics," David Cole, chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, said in a statement. "This year, we are excited that Senator John Thune will share his vision of our party’s future with Missouri’s committed Republican volunteers and activists."

Leigh Anne Garren, head of the Missouri Association of Republicans, said a big crowd will await Thune on Saturday. 

“We expect hundreds of conservative activists and elected officials from all across the state to join us in Springfield and are thrilled that Senator John Thune will be delivering the keynote address," she said.

Thune said he was "honored" to speak at the Lincoln Days dinner.

The only openly gay Republican exploring a presidential bid is fighting to be included in an upcoming candidates forum.

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) has ruled out making a bid for the White House next year. With a potential primary challenge looming, he says his focus will be on returning to the Senate.

Asked by Nashville radio host Steve Gill if a potential campaign for the GOP presidential nomination was in his "thought process for 2012 or beyond," Corker was firm. 

"It absolutely isn't," he said Thursday, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

"Look, I really feel like, you know, I’m making a difference in the Senate. I spend so much time trying to understand the issues. I feel like I've become a thought leader in many ways. I’m going to work hard in our state over the next couple of years to try to be reelected."

Corker is one of 10 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2012.

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann (R) knew her upcoming trip to Iowa would create speculation she was edging toward a presidential run.

Bachmann will be the keynote speaker at an Iowans for Tax Relief PAC fundraiser Jan. 21 in Des Moines. News of her trip ignited speculation she was testing the waters for a presidential bid by visiting the first state to hold a nominating contest in 2012. 

Bachmann didn't seem surprised by the reaction.

"I'm headed to Iowa," she told The Ballot Box. "I think that's why" there's the speculation. 

Her staff wouldn't rule out the possibility.

"Nothing is off the table," Bachmann chief of staff Andy Parrish told ABC News. "The congresswoman is excited about her first trip to Iowa this year."



Bachmann, who founded the House Tea Party Caucus, finished the year with close to $2 million in her campaign coffers after raising some $13 million on her way to winning a third term in 2010. That has prompted speculation she might challenge Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

But any bid for statewide office in Democratic-leaning Minnesota would be risky because Bachmann has based her career on courting controversy and staking out staunchly conservative positions. 

Whether or not she mounts a campaign for the GOP presidential nod, Indiana-based Republican strategist Kurt Luidhardt said it's beneficial for Bachmann to raise her national profile.

"People think she can run. Not every member of Congress is having that same kind of attention," Luidhardt said. 

--Updated at 5:50 p.m.

While other conservatives often lament the crop of 2012 prospects, Jim DeMint's been withholding judgment.

A Minnesota congressman has popularized a Twitter hashtag in recognition of the service of former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), who handed the reigns to Democrat Mark Dayton on Monday. 

Rep. Erik Paulsen (R) tweeted Monday, "Thank you @TimPawlenty for 8 great years of leadership and for making MN such a great place to live," and attached the marker "ThanksTPaw."

The hashtag was later picked up by constituents to send messages to the former governor, who himself had posted a farewell tweet Monday morning.

"It has been an extraordinary honor to serve as Minnesota's Governor for the past 8 yrs.Thanks to the people of Minnesota for the opportunity," he said.

Next week will see the release of Pawlenty's new book, Courage to Stand, and the start of a related national publicity tour that will take him to Iowa and New Hampshire — both early deciders in presidential primaries.

Continue following the "ThanksTPaw" hashtag here.