Behind the Daniels family veto  —  On Friday, the pieces were coming together nicely for a Mitch Daniels-for-president campaign.  Some top potential staffers were told they would have a job, and to keep their powder dry just a little bit longer.  Several Washington Republicans expected a declaration in the next few days.

Daniels Is Out, in Another Jolt to G.O.P. Field  —  WASHINGTON — The announcement Sunday by Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana that he would not run for the Republican presidential nomination ended one major chapter of uncertainty in the race but ignited new debate over whether the current field contains …

The Next President Isn't Currently Running (Updated)  —  There's no GOP operative for whom I have higher regard than former RNC chair and senior Bush advisor Ed Gillespie.  He deserves to be taken seriously when he says (according to Politico): “For all intents and purposes, the field is set.

Republicans ignored warnings on Paul Ryan plan  —  It might be a political time bomb — that's what GOP pollsters warned as House Republicans prepared for the April 15 vote on Rep. Paul Ryan's proposed budget, with its plan to dramatically remake Medicare.  —  No matter how favorably pollsters …

Scott Brown a ‘no’ on Ryan budget  —  GOP Sen. Scott Brown (Mass.) said Monday he won't support Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) budget when it comes up for a vote in the Senate.  —  Brown, a centrist who is running for reelection in 2012, said that Ryan's plan helped jumpstart a necessary debate, but that Ryan's Medicare reforms go too far.