Daniels and the Senate: ‘Just not the job for me’

Mitch Daniels listened, then bailed on a Senate run. Plus, Purdue preps a tribute to Winifred and Frieda Parker. And catching up on other reads during a busy General Assembly session

Thanks to the Builders Association of Greater Lafayette for sponsoring today’s edition.

---

Mitch Daniels left himself plenty of outs just after the turn of the new year, when he first fessed up that he was listening to those around him urging him to run for U.S. Senate in 2024.

Daniels said he was listening and that he was “giving it a serious look.” But the former Indiana governor and recently retired Purdue president admitted: “I’ve only had action jobs.” On a break in tour of Capitol Hill last week, taken to test the waters with some firsthand interviews, he emerged long enough to tell a Politico reporter that he wasn’t worried about losing an election: “I’m worried about winning it and regretting it for six years.”

On Tuesday, Daniels pulled the plug, announcing in a column-length statement that he figured he wasn’t right for the job – or more specifically, that the gig wasn’t right for him. (Check the full statement below.)