Indiana Gov. Tells House GOP to be Bold

Indiana governor Mitch Daniels (R) is not one to give campaign advice, but on Friday he made an exception at the House Republicans annual retreat.

The former director of the Office of Management and Budget spent time talking about how the Republicans present themselves.

The key to success in the brutal business of politics is to be bold, the second-term governor told lawmakers at a 7 a.m. breakfast.

“End up places candidates don’t go,” he said. “I talked a lot about getting your hands dirty; being with and connecting and really understanding the lives of real people.”

“Don’t be afraid to use your own words, even if they are not quite artful or precise as some might have written for you, if they are yours, I think you gain more in people believing you are sincere or genuine,” he told the reporters.

Retreat organizer Rep. Mike Pence – also from Indiana – said that Daniels earned the standing ovation that members gave at the end of his hour-long remarks.

–Molly K. Hooper