- Indiana Republican movers and shakers are hoping Office of Management and Budget Director Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. will come home and run for governor in 2004. Seems increasingly likely, though Daniels says he hasn't made up his mind yet.
If he does run, White House personnel chief Clay Johnson is considered the odds-on favorite to replace him in what many consider the most thankless job in government. Johnson was tapped to replace OMB deputy director Mark W. Everson, who was nominated Monday to run the IRS.
True, Johnson may not be an economist. And also true he doesn't have vast experience dealing with congressional budget matters. But Johnson's a very close Bush pal back to prep school and Yale days.
