Five reasons Mitch Daniels should run for president, and five reasons Mitch Daniels should not run for president.
Best reason to run:
As many pundits have said, Daniels would add a much-needed adult voice to the political conversation. In a world of sound bites and pandering, he'd be a rare politician willing to talk frankly about entitlement and Pentagon spending. While other GOP candidates would attempt to play the role of America's preacher, he likely would be the most articulate voice on the dangers to the nation of increasing debt. If his time in Indiana is a gauge, he'd also be willing to take the harsh criticism that often comes with talking seriously about serious issues.
Best reason not to:
The reluctant candidate whom Daniels plays so well has generated glowing national media coverage. But once he enters the race, everything would change. His record would be scrutinized and his words parsed. His well-crafted image would immediately be dinged. He'd simply be another candidate, one without a national following or impressive poll numbers. The odds of winning are so long that it's worth asking whether a run is worth veering from the final 18 months of an agenda-defining gubernatorial administration.
