Mitch Daniels officially exiting politics to head Indiana's Purdue University

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels will be the next president of Purdue University, stepping into the position after his term in office ends, the university announced Thursday.
 
“Effective immediately, I will recuse myself from any partisan political activities or commentary,” Daniels said in remarks to the university.

Daniels will step down as governor in January after eight years in office. Although he declined to run for president this year, his name has often come up in speculation about presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s running mate, or for future Republican hopes for the White House.
 
“No institution of any kind means more to Indiana today or tomorrow as Purdue University,” Daniels said. “I hope to become an audible and credible voice for the critical role of higher education in the nation's future, and an effective advocate of Purdue to those who might support its growth in quality and reputation.”

Indiana Sen. Dan Coats (R) quickly welcomed the news.

“I always said ‘President Daniels’ has a nice ring to it," he said in a statement. "Despite the numerous national opportunities available to him, the governor followed his heart and chose to stay home in Indiana. In doing so, he once again demonstrated his passion for our state and commitment to improving our education system for future generations. I commend the governor for his dedication to Hoosiers and look forward to working with him as he leads Purdue University.”
 
The Purdue Board of Trustees voted on Daniels Thursday morning. Until leaks earlier this week, his candidacy had been a closely guarded secret, due to the closed selection process at the university.

Keith Krach, the board chairman, said Daniels’s appointment would “continue to raise the global profile of Purdue.”
 
He will replace the university’s current, retiring President France Córdova.

—Updated at 11:13 a.m.

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