Mitch Daniels,  President 2012

President 2012: Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels Will NOT Run for President

May 21, 2011 /

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels answers questions Thursday, May 19, 2011, at the Palais Royale ballroom during a breakfast speech in South Bend, Indiana

Mitch Daniels is out of the race for 2012.

Gov. Mitch Daniels and many Republicans think he could have been the next president of the United States — but he will not run, saying his wife and daughters vetoed that choice.

“I will not be a candidate,” Daniels said in a statement given exclusively late Saturday to The Indianapolis Star.

Those words ended 17 months of speculation — and downright begging from anxious Republicans searching for a candidate who can beat President Barack Obama.

There will be plenty more in the morning. But, this development certainly helps Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty and Jon Huntsman.

Stay tuned as the Bush donors scramble to find someone to draft to be the anti-Romney candidate. My best guess is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.