Lugar on Mitch Daniels: 'Yes, that's my choice'

Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) gushed with praise Thursday for Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R), saying he hopes his fellow Hoosier will run for president.

Lugar, the veteran GOP senator, refused to even entertain any other presidential candidate.

"Yes, that's my choice," Lugar said in an interview with the conservative magazine Newsmax when asked about his preferred Republican candidate to challenge President Obama in 2012. "Don't name any more."

Daniels is considering running and has said he'll decide whether to wage a bid following the end of his State Legislature's general session this spring. A former director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for President George W. Bush, a Daniels candidacy would likely emphasize fiscal issues over social issues, on which Daniels has called for a "truce."

"I have no idea what Gov. Daniels will ultimately decide," Lugar said. "I believe he would be an outstanding president, and I say this because he has managed with fiscal prudence the state of Indiana in such a way that we have balanced budgets."

Lugar has previously encouraged Daniels to run, though his strong endorsement could put the governor in a tough spot should he ultimately decide to pursue the Republican nomination. Lugar is expected to face a conservative primary challenger, and Daniels might not wish to alienate any constituency by being forced to weigh in on the primary.