INDIANAPOLIS -
Gov. Mitch Daniels made headlines when he said last year that he would not run for president. But Indiana's governor is on Politico's homepage Monday, sparking more speculation of a late run amid a fluctuating Republican field of candidates.
Mitt Romney's numbers have some in the GOP nervous about their front-runner, especially as Rick Santorum has been polling well in Romney's home state of Michigan.
The prospect of a drawn-out primary battle is prompting some in the Republican party to speculate that Mitch Daniels or New Jersey's Chris Christie might step up in the event of a so-called "brokered" convention. That's a scenario where the GOP nominee has not been settled on when the GOP convenes in Tampa in August.
It appears that Gov. Daniels has become a victim of his own success.
"That we have raised expectations," he said as part of a speech Monday.
That message, delivered Monday to the Sen. Richard Lugar leadership series, has resonated with Republicans nationally as they continue to watch the presidential field flounder.
"I guess Romney if I had to vote now but I would rather have Mitch Daniels," said one supporter when asked who he favors in the GOP primary race.
"I think Mitch Daniels absolutely should run," said another man.
If none of the four GOP aspirants is able to secure the 1,144 delegates needed for nomination, it could lead to a deadlocked convention.
In 1952 Dwight Eisenhower emerged with the nomination even though he had fewer primary and caucus votes than Ohio Sen. Robert Taft. Back in those days that was possible because three-quarters of the states did not have primaries.
In 1976, Gerald Ford defeated Ronald Reagan when he convinced a state chairman from Mississippi to deliver his delegates. The cost? Ford had to dump his vice president Nelson Rockefeller, which he did, for Kansas Sen. Bob Dole.
Indiana State Party Chairman Erik Holcomb says the modern term would be a contested convention since the days of the power brokers are now over.
"However I would not rule it out. I think if you ruled anything out at this point you would be misguided," said Holcomb.
Holcomb told Politico that the "whispers have become shouts, knocks have become fist pounding." But Daniels seems undeterred.
"I would like to participate. I would like to help fashion a winning race. I have tried to contribute ideas. I will keep doing that but I'm looking for someone else to be the candidate," the governor told Eyewitness News Monday.
We asked him about the possibility of a deadlocked convention turning to him.
"A, it is very unlikely to happen. B, my advice would be let's find somebody else," said the governor.
So on this Presidents Day, the governor defers. But all signs, including the "Run Mitch Run" signs, point to Tampa, Florida in late August.
