Did Indiana Republicans vote for challenger Richard Mourdock or against incumbent Richard Lugar in their primary election for a U.S. Senate seat?It’s hard to tell, because voters don’t have to give a reason.A Capitol Hill political newspaper reported Tuesday that Rep. Mike Pence, R-6th, is considering whether to step down from his position in House Republican leadership to prepare to run for governor or president in 2012.
Politico quoted an unnamed source who said that Pence, who was elected to the No. 3 position in House GOP hierarchy, “would leave the leadership job with a blunt explanation to colleagues that he can’t commit to a two-year term in House leadership.”
Politico said the source also said Pence also believes “that he can be a more effective conservative voice if he is free of the responsibilities that he would have in leadership of a House Republican majority.”
Pence spokesman Matt Lloyd would not respond directly to a question about Pence’s intentions.
“This week alone, Mike Pence has campaigned for House candidates in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida and Indiana. His sole focus remains on winning back the majority in Congress, and believes that speculating about who will occupy what leadership position in the next Congress is ‘looking past the playoffs’ and out of place.”
Pence begins the “2010 Mike Pence Road Team Bus Tour” in Indiana on Wednesday, the first of a three-day tour to campaign for Hoosier candidates, including GOP congressional contender Marlin Stutzman on Thursday.
sylviasmith@jg.net
