President 2012: Mitch Daniels and President Barack Obama Make Nice in Indy

President Barack Obama today told workers at Allison Transmission that they represent the answer for a nation concerned about both jobs and rising gas prices.

Obama, in his fifth trip to Indiana as president, chose Allison Transmission because it is a leader in developing hybrid transmissions, and has done so with $62.8 million federal grant.

The nation, he said, wants to know where the jobs are, and what will be done about gasoline that now costs more than $4 per gallon.

“The reason I’m here today,” he said, “is because the answers to these questions are right here at Allison, right here in these vehicles, right here in these transmissions.”

“This is where the American economy is rebuilt, where we are regaining our footing,” Obama told several hundred people, a mix of Allison employees and political supporters.

In 2008, Obama became the first Democrat to win Indiana’s electoral votes since Lyndon Johnson did so in 1964. Winning them again will be harder. Republicans won’t ever again take Indiana for granted, and in 2012 Obama will be running on his own record. The key to staying in the White House will be whether the public believes he has turned the nation in the right direction. (…)

President Barack Obama greeted Gov. Mitch Daniels, Mayor Greg Ballard and a crowd of well-wishers at the Indianapolis airport at about 11:30 a.m. Friday.

Ballard and Daniels, who is weighing a presidential run against Obama in 2012, chatted with the president for close to five minutes. Then — in a surprise move — Obama jogged over to a crowd of well-wishers, the family and friends of his staffers, and shook hands and chatted for a few more minutes.

The fact is President Obama would like to again win Indiana, a key battleground state that the GOP needs to beat him in 2012. Most pundits say that the President has an uphill battle.

But, the significance of today’s meeting with Governor Mitch Daniels is one of symbolism over substance. Remember the photos of turncoat Florida Republican Governor Charlie Crist hugging Obama. Remember how those photos were used against Crist?

Some conservatives are leery about Mitch Daniels and his ties to the GOP Establishment – so they are watching him very close. Of course, showing some common courtesy to POTUS as he goes about his official duties, should be discouraged or something? And, greeting the President of the United States at an airport is heresy?

But the photos are important and I don’t think Daniel’s gets into any trouble with the RIGHT with some of these.