Mitch Daniels: Turd Blossom

This has been a very rough year for Republicans. Come Wednesday morning, there will be very few bright spots for the party in what is likely to be a national sea of losses across the political landscape. But if you want to find one Republican success story this year, look no further than Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, who is favored to easily win re-election in the face of the national Democratic tide sweeping across the country, as well as in his own state.

While the title of this post is provocative, it is meant to be complimentary. "Turd blossom" is a title George Bush bestowed on Karl Rove once upon a time, and I think it is a good label. Perhaps a better analogy is the flower bulb that once blossomed out of my parents' compost heap in the center of many dried leaves, cut shrubbery and rotted out banana peels and melon rinds. Similarly, Mitch Daniels has been able to navigate himself through a brutal year for his political party and ride into a second term in office because of moderation on some issues and political smarts.

I highlight Daniels not so much because I like him or agree with his policies. Rather, I think he stands as a solid example of how to win office in a difficult political climate, and also as a Republican who was able to maintain his popularity without falling victim to the siren song of moving to the extreme right.

Daniels' impending victory is all the more impressive when you consider two things. First, Daniels came to Washington with President Bush in 2001, becoming his first head of OMB. Second, Daniels has spearheaded numerous controversial measures including leasing the state's toll roll to a private corporation and moving the state onto daylight savings time, moves that were highly unpopular with many Hoosiers. That Daniels has been able to move the campaign away from the unpopular President Bush -- after working closely with him in his administration -- is a testament to his skill. Furthermore, voters have appreciated his focus on business sense and unorthodox moves to balance the state's budget, and they appear ready to put him back into office as a result. This column in support of Daniels' re-election discusses some of these things, and is worth a quick read.

Again, I am not so much approving of Daniels' conservatism and policies so much as applauding his ability to win given inherent disadvantages which have faced him all year. (Admittedly, it did not hurt that he has been able to raise and spend a small fortune, easily deluging his mediocre Democratic opponent.) Republicans should take note that you don't have to govern as an evangelical conservative in order to win office, this or any year.