Budget battle has made Rep. Pence a major player.

The budget showdown this month, in which fiscal hawks forced House GOP leaders to support an anti-spending measure, made Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) a contender for Speaker, Capitol Hill insiders say.

Pence’s chances of becoming the next Speaker are a long shot, but the fact that some are mentioning his name suggest that Pence’s political star is on the rise.

[Several Republican lawmakers] credited Pence with standing up for the conservative wing of the party during the budget battle.

(3-30-05 The Hill.)