It seems Indiana governor Mitch Daniels may have the support for a major Republican party leader should he decide to run for president in 2012.
New Jersey governor Chris Christie praised the Indiana Republican Monday, saying he is just one of a number of potential Republican presidential candidates worthy of his support in 2012.
“He’s certainly somebody who I have enormous respect for and would give real consideration to supporting” Mr. Christie said in a radio interview. “If you look at it, governors have tended to be some of our best presidents. That’s why I would lean in that direction.”
The New Jersey Republican, who is slated to meet with former Utah governor Jon Huntsman on Thursday, has quickly branded himself a kingmaker within the Republican party. Mr. Christie has already met with a number of potential Republican presidential candidates, including former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
Mr. Christie has yet to say which candidate he plans on supporting in 2012, however, he may plan on supporting a number of candidates just as he did during the 2010 mid-term elections. The New Jersey Republican again noted he will not enter the 2012 presidential campaign, instead saying he is flattered by the attention.
Mr. Daniels, for his part, has said he plans to announce his decision in the coming weeks. A number of Republicans have pointed to Mr. Daniels’ entry following Mississippi governor Haley Barbour’s decision not to enter the 2012 Republican campaign.
