The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 2 of 2)

with great interest. Seems Daniels has privately expressed some interest in returning to the Hoosier state in the near future, with an eye to maybe run for statewide office down the road. "Daniels would make a great candidate for governor if he wanted to make the jump into that kind of politics," says a Washington lobbyist who has tracked Daniels' career. "He has the background and the in-state name I.D. to make a run if he wants to." /p>

Daniels was thought to be a short-term Bush administration hire, perhaps for no more than the first two or three years, in part because Daniels still commutes between Washington and Indianapolis every week. But with the increasing likelihood that budget deficits will rule the day until at least 2005, the thinking inside the White House is that Daniels may stick around to see some success. Last week, he predicted balanced budgets and surpluses again after the 2004 budget cycle.

p>It isn't just politics back home in Indiana where Daniels is being touted. Some inside the White House say Daniels would make a great presidential chief of staff should the current holder of the job, Andrew Card , resign or move on to another job in the administration. br> /p>