Mitch Daniels' Backers Mull Next Steps

Now that Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has decided against running for the Republican presidential nomination, his more high-powered backers are trying to figure out where to devote their energies next, Politico reports.

Mitch Daniels

The dilemma is whether to migrate to an existing candidate who inspires no strong enthusiasm among them or to wait for a more appealing candidate to hopefully enter the fray.

Several top Daniels supporters predicted Sunday that there will be no quick move to a declared candidate. Instead, the big guns will wait until a current candidate gathers strength or a new game changer comes along.

These heavyweights can make a difference.

“The people that were waiting on him [Daniels] and were prepared to support him comprise a list that would have been unmatched by any current candidate in the field,” Don Cogman, a former Burson-Marsteller president and Daniels confidant, wrote in an email to associates.