Gov. Daniels: No plans to travel to early primary states, no 'secret agendas'

Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-Ind.), a rumored GOP presidential contender in 2012, said on "Fox News Sunday" that he has no plans to travel to Iowa or New Hampshire and is not yet thinking about a presidential run.

Daniels said he has turned down scores of invitations to the early primary states and is keeping his focus on challenges in his own state of Indiana.

"I have turned down invitations to those places and many others," Daniels said. "I have not decided to do this."

Pressed by host Chris Wallace on what would make him jump into the 2012 contest, Daniels wouldn't elaborate. 

"You live in a world of secret agendas and code words, but not all of us operate that way," said Daniels. 

While Daniels is a social conservative and opponent of gay marriage, he suggested earlier this year that his party might be wise to tone down its rhetoric. Daniels said the next president "would have to call a truce" on so-called social issues.

Asked about those comments Sunday, Daniels said he was not suggesting that anyone "abandon their principles," but only that leaders would have to come together to address more pressing fiscal challenges first. 

"My own views and record on these issues are very clear," Daniels said.

He was not asked about last week's federal court ruling that said California's ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional, but Daniels did say that he respects Ted Olson and others who disagree with him on social issues.

The Indiana governor also called the country's fiscal crisis "Republic-threatening," and criticized the Obama administration's approach.

On extending the Bush tax cuts, Daniels said it was hard to believe that anyone thinks raising taxes is a good idea in the current environment. He also endorsed a means test for retirement benefits.

"Why are we sending retirement checks to Warren Buffett?" he asked.

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