News out tonight that Indiana Representative Mike Pence will officially not run for President in 2012. The Indy Star has the scoop released directly from Representative Pence.
Report from the Indianapolis Star:
U.S. Rep. Mike Pence shut the door today on a run for the presidency, but left wide open the likelihood that he’ll seek a different office: Governor of Indiana.
“In the choice between seeking national office and serving Indiana in some capacity, we choose Indiana,” Pence, R-Columbus, said of himself and wife Karen in a letter being sent to supporters. “We will not seek the Republican nomination for president in 2012.”
He said he would make a decision “later this year” about what his next political step is, but by not running for president it is considered a virtual certainty that he will run for the GOP nomination for governor. While he could, instead, run for a seventh term in Congress, that’s not considered likely given that Pence gave up the job that would have made him the fourth-highest ranking Republican in the House after the November elections, in order to focus on other political opportunities.
Not a huge change in the field considering that Pence didn’t have massive name recognition outside conservative circles. He would have been a strong candidate, however, he would have had a tough time among the national names. A run for Indiana Governor will suit him well.
