Pence Mulls Leaving Chair to Run for Prez or Gov

Preparations for the 2012 presidential race are moving apace. House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana may quit that post to ready a campaign for president or governor in 2012, sources tell Politico.

The conservative Pence doesn’t want to stay in the job if he can’t commit to a two-year term. He wants to stay loyal to his House colleagues – and attract their support if he indeed runs for president.

Pence also sees himself as a more powerful advocate for conservatism if he isn’t burdened by his leadership role. His “sole focus remains on winning back the majority in Congress, and he believes that speculating about who will occupy what leadership position in the next Congress is 'looking past the playoffs’ and out of place,” says the congressman’s spokesman Matt Lloyd.