Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, frequently mentioned as a potential vice presidential candidate, is the latest Republican leader to formally endorse Mitt Romney.
“It must be a slow news day if this has made the air,” Daniels told Fox News on Wednesday. “But for what it’s worth, I did send a congratulatory note to Gov. Romney the other day offering to anything I could to help him, and here I am.”
It didn’t come across as a particularly strong endorsement, and the Fox News anchor noted that Daniels has a dry, self-deprecating manner.
“He’s already won our nomination,” Daniels continued. “He’s earned it, he’s proven himself the best nominee we could put forward, and I’m just happy to sign on and help him.”
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) both endorsed Mitt Romney for president on Tuesday.
Before the primary season kicked off, there was some speculation that Daniels, in his eighth and final year as governor of Indiana, would make a bid for the party’s presidential nomination.
Now the talk will turn to whether Daniels, widely viewed as one of the party’s strongest fiscal conservatives, will join the Romney ticket as a vice presidential candidate.
Daniels looked to dampen that speculation on Wednesday when asked if he would serve as “the No. 2” on the party’s ticket if Romney were to ask.
“It won’t happen, so we won’t take the audience’s time with it,” Daniels said. “I’ll be glad to be the No. 22 or wherever I can fit in, in terms of supporting a winning campaign.”
