Washington (CNN) - Indiana Rep. Mike Pence's decision not to run for president came after a serious lobbying effort by the Republican Governors Association, a GOP source close to the party organization told CNN Thursday.
Pence, who finally revealed his plans to the Indianapolis Star on Thursday after a lengthy cat and mouse game, has not said for certain that he will seek the Indiana governorship, though Hoosier State Republicans widely expect him to do so.
Pence was on the other end of the first recruitment call that Texas Gov. Rick Perry made after taking over the chairmanship of the governor's group late last year. The source called the recruitment effort "intense."
And on Wednesday, hours before Pence apparently finalized his decision, two more RGA heavyweights - Vice Chairman Bob McDonnell of Virginia and Executive Director Phil Cox - met with the congressman in Washington to urge him to run for governor.
I used to listen to Pence on his radio talk show in Indiana. The guy's articulate enough, but he spouted the usual Republican idiocies. Has he ever done anything else besides host a talk show??
He can run all he wants but he's an unelectable, extremist from the Right. Saying he's not running is a joke. He knows he can't win.
Hey RNC, get an electable moderate and toss these crackpots like Palin overboard or you're doomed 2012.
He hasn't a chance to win the Republican nomination.
But theyve never urged the Quitter from Wasssilla to step aside, or to not quit her Alaskan duties......
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
More is better !
Sarah Palin / Mike Pence 2012
Why would this nitwit even think about running for Pres and why are there so many nitwit repubs in Indiana? BTW, I live in the state.
as if Pence wasn't scary enough....we have a screwball like Rick Perry recruiting him? I guess it's fitting; they are both tea party hypocrites.
Well the decision should be his and his only
Considering that Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana is rumored to be considering a run for the presidency, it could have been awkward with another high-profile Hoosier also out there.
Hmmm why don't they want you to run?!?! ODD!!!!! You would think they would be proud of him and his accomplishments that he feels he is ready for the big show!!!! He should probably run for Senate first.
Perry's a good one to lead – lead you right in to debt. He still hasn't figured out how to fix his $27 billion budget deficit – doesn't get any stimulis $$ to balance the state's budget this year. So instead of calling the increase in taxes, he calls it fees....