Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), one of the few centrist Democrats who survived last November's midterm elections, said Thursday that redistricting might very well change his 2012 plans.

Donnelly suggested a run for governor in 2012 might be a more attractive option should his congressional district be redrawn to include more Republican territory, according to the AP.  

Republicans control the Indiana state legislature and will largely control this year's redraw. Even though the size of the state's congressional delegation will remain unchanged, Republicans will likely look to make marginally Republican districts safer bets for the party.

That, along with the likelihood that Donnelly would once again be a top GOP target in 2012, could have him leaning toward a statewide run. 

Donnelly held off Republican Jackie Walorski to keep his seat in 2010 and was likely aided by the presence of a Libertarian candidate on the ballot who garnered about 5 percent of the vote.  

Democrats in the state have been looking for a top-tier candidate to run for governor in 2012 after former Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) passed on the race. Former Rep. Baron Hill (D-Ind.) also said he wouldn't get in the race to succeed Gov. Mitch Daniels (R). 

Among Republicans, many observers think Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) is more likely than not to jump in the race for governor now that Bayh is out. Pence is also a rumored Republican presidential hopeful in 2012 and is expected to make a final decision on his plans as early as the end of the month.  

One candidate has already announced his interest, and a host of Tea Party candidates are expected to enter the fray.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele faces four challengers as he seeks to win a second term in Friday's balloting.

Former Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak (D) and former South Carolina Rep. Bob Inglis (R) are set to reunite after leaving Congress in January.

The nine-term Democrat and six-term Republican will join Harvard University's Institute of Politics as resident fellows this spring.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the former members will be among a half-dozen fellows who meet with students, participate in activities with the university community and lead weekly study groups.

Stupak announced his retirement in April 2010 after playing a central role in the healthcare reform debate. His socially conservative district was subsequently won by Republican Dan Benishek.

Inglis was defeated in a primary by Trey Gowdy after telling his constituents to "turn Glenn Beck off." He subsequently emerged as a prominent critic of the GOP.

Conservative talk radio host and businessman Herman Cain predicted Thursday that voters are ready to embrace a new type of presidential candidate in 2012 — the "problem-solving" outsider, which he hopes to represent this primary season.

"The opening for us is in the changing political landscape," Cain, a conservative black Republican, told The Ballot Box. "We saw it in what happened on November 2. This sleeping giant called the American people has awakened and they're looking for something new. That's our opening."

Cain formed a presidential exploratory committee Wednesday, officially jump-starting what would be the longest of long shot bids for the presidency.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty starts his book tour defending Palin and says he's "seriously considering" a 2012 bid.

The three-term Republican senator revealed her plans for 2012 in an e-mail to supporters on Thursday.

Rep. Danny Davis isn't backing an opponent of former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel because of ideology — it's about who can best help the city of Chicago, the Illinois Democrat said Thursday.

Davis, who in a surprise move decided to endorse Emanuel opponent and former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (D-Ill.) once he dropped out of the mayoral race, said today that he was backing Braun because she was best choice among the mayoral candidates.

"I always say that just having an ideology is not good enough," Davis said today with Braun at his side and reporters surrounding him. "You've also got to be able to put it into practice. The reality for me is that I want to see Carol Moseley Braun elected mayor of the city of Chicago because I think she's going to do the best, not only for this neighborhood where I live, but she's going to do the best for the entire city."

The endorsement is a coup for Braun who, along with City Clerk Miguel Del Valle and former Chicago Public Schools President Gery Chico have lagged behind the Emanuel in the polls. A recent poll found Emanuel approaching the 50 percent mark among Chicago voters. That number is especially important for all the candidates because if no one can win 50 percent on their own, the top two candidates compete in a runoff election.

The election is on Feb. 22. 

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney resigned from his spot on Marriott's board, a move seen as a step toward running for president.

The Boston Globe reported that Romney had stepped down from the hotel chain's board of directors, mirroring a move he made four years ago before his run for office.

Romney's seen as likely to jump into the presidential race, but not until later on in the cycle. By contrast, he formed his exploratory committee on Jan. 3, 2007 when he pursued the nomination in 2008.

The former Massachusetts governor is currently on a trip abroad — to Afghanistan, Jordan and Israel — to bone up on his foreign policy credentials.