Rep. Pence to skip GOP race for president

A GOP lawmaker who is a favorite of social conservatives says he'll skip a campaign for president and might explore a run for Indiana governor instead.

"In the choice between seeking national office and serving Indiana in some capacity, we choose Indiana," Rep. Mike Pence said about himself and his wife, Karen, in a letter to supporters. "We will not seek the Republican nomination for president in 2012."

The news is being reported by our Gannett sister paper, The Indianapolis Star.

Pence said he'll make a decision later about whether he'll run to succeed Republican Mitch Daniels as governor. For now, he'll launch a "listening tour" of the Hoosier State tomorrow.

Daniels, who is term limited, is thinking about running for president in 2012. The GOP field could be crowded, with Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann also considering their options.

CNN reported a short while ago that it had confirmed with three sources that Pence would take himself out of the presidential sweepstakes.

Last year, Pence was the surprise winner of a straw poll for president conducted at the Values Voters Summit, an annual gathering organized by the socially conservative Family Research Council.

Pence, 51, had been encouraged to run for president by Republicans such as former House majority leader Dick Armey.

By Catalina Camia, USA TODAY


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