Gov. Mitch Daniels has been suggested as a vice presidential running mate for Gov. Mitt Romney on the Republican ticket. But Daniels made it known Sunday he’s not interested.
It is the second time that Daniels has stepped away from the national spotlight. Last year he announced he would not seek the presidency, saying his family was not fond of the idea.
Having Daniels on the Republican ticket would certainly broaden its attractiveness. Presidential candidates from the East often turn to the Midwest or West for someone to round out the ticket. Geographical ties are a factor in presidential elections. The theory is that people in Ohio, Michigan and Illinois would be more likely to vote Republican if they had a Hoosier neighbor on the ballot. Daniels would also balance out Romney’s rich Eastern guy tag with a modest Midwestern background.
Five times before in our nation’s history, winners of the presidency had Hoosier politicians as their vice presidential running mates. Schuyler Colfax of South Bend served as Speaker of the House before becoming Ulysses Grant’s vice president. Thomas Hendricks, a former governor and senator served as Grover Cleveland’s vice president in 1888. He died eight months into his term. Charles W. Fairbanks of Indianapolis was a U.S. senator from Indiana and then served as Theodore Roosevelt’s vice president from 1905 to 1909. Thomas Marshall served under Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1921. In recent memory, Dan Quayle, a lawyer from Huntington who served as U.S. senator, was vice president for George H.W. Bush from 1989 to 1993.
The office of vice president is an important position that often is disrespected. Remember how Dan Quayle was the butt of jokes on the late-night talk shows? Vice presidents preside over the Senate, and they are often sent around the world by their president on important diplomatic missions.
Despite the lure of the high office and its important place in American history, many do not want it, including Daniels.
Daniels’ case of reluctancy is something we are seeing on a grand scale in the United States. Many men and women who would make very good politicians because they are shrewd parliamentarians, have extensive experience in business and local or state politics and would be able to get things done in Congress, simply refuse to run for higher office because of the nasty vetting process we Americans would put them through.
For his own private reasons, Daniels has said “no” twice to being involved in the presidential campaign. And when we look ahead at what will befall the man or woman who agrees to be on the Romney ticket, we can’t blame Daniels for again saying “no thanks.”
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