Daniels Spoke to Bush About '12 Run

Politico reports:

Mitch Daniels revealed Tuesday morning that he's consulted with former President George W. Bush, whose administration he served in as budget director, as he's weighed a 2012 presidential run.

"Yes," Daniels replied to the "Fox and Friends" crew when they asked if he's talked to Bush, who appointed Daniels as Office of Management and Budget head back in 2001.

But he declined to reveal what was said, adding, "That's between him and me."

Daniels gave no insight into which way he's leaning as he approaches a self-imposed deadline in the coming weeks for making a decision about joining the 2012 field.

"Would I like to [run]? No," Daniels said, chuckling. "What sane person would like to? ... I'm not one of those people that sat around scheming and dreaming [about running]. I've agreed at the behest of a lot of people to give it some thought."

"I know I owe people an answer," he added. And he said he won't be at the first presidential debate in South Carolina on Thursday, hosted by Fox News, saying, "that's for people who've made up their mind."

He demurred on whatever discussions have gone on between himself and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, his longtime friend who recently bowed out of the race — and against whom Daniels was widely seen as unlikely to run.

"We cut cards and I drew a two," he joked. "I was very interestd in what Gov. Barbour was thinking, I tell you what, it would have been fun to be in it together. ... It would have been very clean and upbeat."