Indiana Gov Mike Pence to Decide in April on White House Bid

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says he will wait until late April before deciding whether he will seek re-election or make a Republican presidential bid for 2016, Politico reports.

Pence, a six-term Hoosier lawmaker before taking over for former Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2012, touted both a "deep" and experienced GOP presidential primary field, but also shared his own strong record as governor, Politico said.

"We have strong reserves. Unemployment’s down," Pence, 55, told Politico. "When I became governor, it was 8 percent. It’s 5.8 percent today. We led the nation in manufacturing jobs created last year. So there are 49 governors who wish they could be me.”

Pence said he remained focused on making sure his state had a strong and balanced budget in place before pondering a loftier political position. And he also noted he faced the quandary of running for governor or president, but not both, as his state's law doesn't allow it.

Pence, who has battled with state education administrators over reforms, showed off his conservative credentials last week when he attended an education rally at the statehouse, chalkbeat.org reported. He noted his support for school choice and vouchers to a gathering of students from charter and private schools.

At least one Pence family member has said she thinks he should serve two terms as governor before making a White House run, the Indianapolis Star reported.

Pence's 82-year-old mother Nancy Pence Fritsch said in January that he'd be great as president — but not yet.


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