He took Indiana from a $600,000,000 deficit to a $340,000,000 surplus.  Governing magazine named Gov. Daniels the most outstanding public official in 2008. (Thanks for both facts to Americans for Mitch)   He also is a greatly admired and respected leader.  Daniels says he’s through with politics  in an Atlantic article almost Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in style.  But there is a draft Mitch site.  His supporters are also on Facebook and Twitter.  He was quoted as saying (in a nice WSJ article worth reading) his conservative credentials were “uninpeachable”.   I believe him that he won’t run BUT that does not say it can’t happen.

Jon Huntsman, former Governor of Utah and now our Ambassador to China, had been on some short lists for 2012.  His support for civil unions  for gays would hurt him with some social conservatives.  He is also LDS like Mitt Romney.  He may have some of the same issues with certain people.  Again, his beliefs could be a great asset due to the LDS reputation for honesty, integrity and family values.  But I think he is out as long as he is Ambassador to China.  (Huntsman was also Ambassador to Singapore, too.)

General David Petraeus has been banded about in several places as a great President.  I agree he’d be a decisive leader.  This site has intriguing alleged inside baseball about his interest in the job.  He was described in the Forbes article above as being a “Rockefeller Republican”, whatever that means.  If it turns out he is pro-choice and pro gays in the military that will be a hard sell to the GOP base.  The assumption that military officers are social conservatives is not necessarily true.  Despire my immense respect and admiration for General Petreaus I do not think he will run. 

Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina is a solid conservative.  There is an interesting and somewhat humorous article that suggests he is not good-looking enough to run for President!  I would suggest he has no problems on that front based on the official Senate website and GOP 12. I like him where he is.

Now I invite the readers to come up with more ideas!