Indiana Governor Daniels still coy on White House run

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is applauded as he takes to the lectern at the Conservative Political Action conference (CPAC) dinner in Washington February 11, 2011.

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has consistently said that he would not make a decision on running for president until after the state legislative session ended.

The session ended on Friday and Daniels remained coy on the subject.

"You can't announce a decision you haven't made," Daniels told reporters on Saturday after signing what supporters hail as landmark education reforms. The new laws expand charter school creation and provide vouchers for eligible private school students.

When pressed, Daniels declined to go into the details of his decision making process. "I've been listening to all sorts of people and hearing from all sorts of people and every one of them has an opinion that I value."

There has been speculation that Daniels might jump into the race for the Republican nomination to challenge President Barack Obama in 2012 now that some other possible candidates such as Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour decided to pass.

"It occurred to me this morning when I was making my breakfast, if I switch from oatmeal to corn flakes, someone would say it was a move to the Iowa caucus. It's just a weird time," Daniels said.

He said he will announce his decision sometime in the next few weeks.

Democrats in his home state wasted no time trying to tarnish his image.

"The 2011 session of the Indiana General Assembly was a complete disaster," said Indiana House Democratic Leader B. Patrick Bauer.

(Editing by Greg McCune)