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Conservative insiders were not surprised by Indiana Republican Mike Pence’s decision not to run for president in 2012, but all agree his bowing out leaves the GOP nomination — in the phrase used again and again — “wide open.” One source familiar with the effort to recruit Pence tells National Review Online that while Pence “could have united the conservative movement,” his departure leaves a Republican field that “is never going to be as wide-open again.” “In six years or ten years it’s going to be an incredibly full field: The 2012 field is the Washington Nationals. Subsequent fields will...

Three sources close to Republican Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana tell CNN they are told he will announce he is not running for president in 2012 and will instead begin exploring a run for governor. These sources say he has been flattered by the efforts to nudge him into the GOP presidential race but, as one of the sources put it, "he is a realist and kept coming back to questions about the fund-raising." The second source said some around Pence also have reminded him of the difficulty of mounting a presidential campaign from the House, and noted that, at...

To understand the dissatisfaction on the right with the current crop of Republican presidential hopefuls, look no further than Mike Pence. An Indiana congressman with just five terms in public office, Pence is currently the subject of a draft movement — but he may well pick a gubernatorial run over a White House bid. Nevertheless, a group of longtime Republicans — including former House Majority Leader Dick Armey and former Rep. Jim Ryun — are working with a well-connected conservative public relations firm to urge the congressman to head to Des Moines and Manchester instead of Indianapolis and Muncie. Their...

Mike Pence could become the “Madonna” of 2012. Remember the 1980s movie “Desperately Seeking Susan?” starring the pop icon? (Oy, I may be dating myself.) Well, there is a political movement out there that we might want to start calling, “Desperately Seeking Pence” There’s a “Draft Mike Pence” for president petition that has been put together and is circulating out there. (more on that here) and now there is a separate movement down in South Carolina to get Pence to run. More here. Watch the video below of some South Carolina legislators announcing their support for Pence. We should know...

Less than two weeks before Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., is expected to make an announcement about his political future, conservative leaders are urging him to jump into the 2012 presidential race. Within the last week, at least two draft Mike Pence groups have sprung up, including an effort spearheaded by former Rep. Jim Ryun, R-Kan., and former Reagan administration official Ralph Benko. "Seize this moment, Mike," Ryun, along with conservative leaders L. Brent Bozell, Dick Armey and Morton Blackwell, wrote in a letter they sent to Pence on Thursday. "Now is the time for you, as one of this generation's...

Two prominent conservatives have joined forces in an attempt to get Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) into the race for president. A Draft Pence for President movement launched Monday, led by conservative former Rep. Jim Ryun (R-Kan.) and Ralph Benko, who served as an adviser to President Reagan. The pair founded the American President’s Committee, a political action committee dedicated to promoting a Pence presidential bid through the website www.theconservativechampion.org.

Pundits have been speculating regarding the plans of my favorite Congressman, Mike Pence, after he won the straw poll for President at the Values Voter conference a few months ago and when he resigned as the Chairman of the Republican Conference late last year -citing plans that would detract from his being able to fulfill the duties of that leadership position. Late last year, he told inquiring minds that he would be making his decision regarding his plans early this year. But now the signs are indicating that he intends to run for the governor's office opening up in Indiana...

On a midweek afternoon in February 2009, a month into the Obama presidency, Republican Rep. Mike Pence arrived at Columbus in his east-central Indiana district for a town hall meeting, the sort of event that usually attracted a few dozen constituents. Surprised to see the hallway outside the room crowded with people, "their arms folded and brows furrowed," Pence shouted down the hall to an aide, asking him to get a janitor to open the room. The aide shouted back that the room was open — and overflowing. Congress had just passed the stimulus (Pence voted no), and Hoosiers were...

That's good news for those wanting to hear some fiscal sanity. Indiana 6th District U.S. Rep. Mike Pence has been hinting coyly for months that he might seek higher office. When he quit his House leadership role shortly after winning re-election, that put some substance behind the hints. But which race was he aiming at – the GOP gubernatorial primary or the presidential contest? It now appears it is the White House that Pence seeks, not the governor's mansion. In a major speech this week to the Detroit Economic Club, Pence laid out the major economic course he thinks this...

GOP Rep. Mike Pence spoke at the Detroit Economic Club today, and came out fully in favor of the Flat Tax, and called for the United States to abandon “Keynsian spending,” and return to “the practice of free market economics”:

Congressman Mike Pence, a respected national pro-life leader, is stepping down from his position as chairman of the House Republican Conference one day after a huge win for pro-life and Republican candidates. The move doesn’t come from any problems associated with the incoming Republican leaders or Pence but is seen as a potential step towards a gubernatorial bid in Indiana or a possible 2012 presidential race. Pence has already said he doesn’t believe it’s fair to House Republicans to split his attention between the duties of a leadership post and a potential bid for higher office. Pence informed fellow House...

House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana is considering stepping down from his post in the GOP leadership in preparation for a possible bid for president or governor in 2012. Pence, a darling of the conservative movement, would leave the leadership job with a blunt explanation to colleagues that he can’t commit to a two-year term in House leadership, a source familiar with his deliberations told POLITICO Tuesday. Michael McDaniel, a former chairman of the Indiana Republican Party, said Pence’s motivations in the state have long been obvious, as he’s made the rounds at Lincoln Day dinners all over...

House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) was spotted in Iowa over the weekend speaking at just the type of banquet that attracts a presidential candidate: the 10th Annual Friends of the Family Banquet for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition and the Iowa Christian Alliance Education Fund. Pence would definitely fit the bill for a strong fiscally conservative candidate with traditional family values. He was the surprise winner of the Family Research Council's Voter Values 2010 Summit in September edging out Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin. For those who may be unfamiliar with Pence's solid...

So What Do You All Think Of "President Mike Pence"? What A SURPRISE He Won The STRAW POLL!! Amongst all the potential candidates,He appears to be the Most Presidential.In a way,Mike Pence can be described as "The Conservative John Kennedy".The Tea Party Movement is looking for the next Ronald Reagan and John Kennedy.Mike Pence would be an ideal candidate being he represents the Rust Belt.What are your views on Mike Pence,and who would make an ideal VP? Paul Ryan?

"Men and women of the Values Voter Summit, we have a mountain to climb. Those who have gone before in your life climbed their mountain. They stood for freedom in harm's way. They demanded a government as good as our people. Now it's our turn. "The time has come to take our stand. We must not be afraid and we must fight for what has always been the source of American greatness: our faith in God and our freedom. "And if we hold that banner high, I believe with all my heart the good and great people of this land...

Mike Pence takes top spot in Values Voter Summit straw poll By Felicia Sonmez Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) took the top spot Saturday in a presidential straw poll of social conservatives meeting in Washington, a surprise victory over last year's overwhelming favorite, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee. Pence placed first with 24 percent in the straw poll of 723 social conservatives at the Family Research Council's fifth annual Values Voter Summit. Huckabee took second place with 22 percent, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney came in third with 13 percent and former House speaker Newt Gingrich took fourth with 10 percent....

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) will travel to New Hampshire to address the Hillsborough County GOP Lincoln-Reagan dinner March 19, the county committee announced today. Pence is considered a long-shot (at this point) contender for the White House in 2012; he's been making moves as if he has higher office in mind--he added pollster Kellyanne Conway to his political team recently--and the Republican dance card appears to be full in the race to replace Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN). The trip to New Hampshire will be a definite step in the presidential direction.

FORT WAYNE, IND. (WANE) - Congressman Mike Pence talked to NewsChannel 15’s Matt McCutcheon about a variety of issues in the New Year, including the economy, national security, and a potential run for President in 2012. Despite the Winter Blast Thursday afternoon, Pence held town hall meetings in preparation for the upcoming session on Capitol Hill. In a sit down interview with NewsChannel 15, he said there’s a lot of work to be done during that session. "This is about jobs and spending. The American people are tired of the failed economic policies of this administration and this congress. From...

There was a spike in the national press interest on the subject this past week after U.S. Rep. Mike Pence wowed the annual conference of the Americans for Prosperity and scheduled a fundraising trip to South Carolina. It followed his appearance at the National Tea Party on the federal mall in August as well as speaking trips to Iowa and California. Roll Call noted that Pence’s campaign staff passed out small cards on the mall featuring his photo above the words “Mike Pence, Standing Strong.” The back of the card invited voters to “Join the Pence Team.”

Congressman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) has been doing some traveling to some strategic states these days which raised eyebrows over at Roll Call. : The official purpose of House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence’s (Ind.) trip to South Carolina this month is to attend fundraisers on behalf of his House colleagues. But the trip is fueling speculation that the Indiana Republican is charting a course for higher office.