Washington Post editorial: Mitch Daniels and the deficit debate that could have been

Editorial Board Opinion from The Washington Post:

IT’S WAY TOO soon to be picking favorites, but we have to admit to some disappointment at Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels’s decision not to enter the presidential race — both because of who he is and because of what his decision may presage for 2012.

Mr. Daniels, a Republican, had made clear that the national debt would have been issues No. 1, 2 and 3 for him. His sense of urgency is warranted, and he had the record as governor to back up his message: tough on spending without being doctrinaire on revenue. Though we would have disagreed on some of his priorities, he might have succeeded in pushing President Obama toward more seriousness on deficit reduction than the president has shown thus far and sparked a valuable, honest debate about the proper size and role of government.