INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Mitch Daniels says he has not decided yet whether to run for president, but he has been dining and talking privately with people who could help pave the way to the White House.
Daniels has been hosting a series of dinners with top Republican fundraisers and business and policy leaders from around the country at the governor's residence this summer to discuss issues such as national defense and the federal budget.
The dinners with Daniels were not billed as his possibly running for president in 2012, according to one who met with the governor and another who was asked.
But Brad Freeman, a California financier and friend of former President George W. Bush, said it seemed obvious why he was invited.
"I don't think they were inviting us back to get ideas about life," said Freeman, who said he did not attend because he was out of politics. "I may have left the political scene, but I didn't leave yesterday."
The dinners were first reported Tuesday on the website Politico.com.
Daniels said Tuesday he had no intention or plans to run for president, was not taking "any of the steps or going to any of the places that a presidential candidate would go" and that his priorities were fixed on his duties as governor.
"I've said that many people have asked to visit with me about a candidacy and about reconsidering my disinclination to run," Daniels said in a statement. "I've said I've made no final decision about running for president and won't for months, and that is true."
Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman confirmed that the dinners have taken place but said she had not seen a guest list and had not attended.
She said Daniels has routinely reached out to those with expertise on issues during his six years as governor. The only difference, she said, was that it "has become a little more frequent."
Eric Holcomb, who ran Daniels' 2008 re-election campaign and is now a deputy chief of staff for the governor, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Former Republican Rep. George Nethercutt of Washington state said he and about 10 others attended a dinner with Daniels in late June and discussed national security issues. Nethercutt said Arizona businessman Don Cogman invited him.
He said he found Daniels smart and capable, but he did not get the sense that he was laying the foundation for a presidential run. He said Daniels did not mention that.
"He said, ‘Thanks for coming and it was very helpful to me to have opinions and perspective on issues,'" Nethercutt said. "It was that kind of meeting of substance."
Nethercutt said he flew to Indianapolis at his own expense.
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