My Man Mitch

Reihan Salam, co-author of the book "Grand New Party"--one of several on my rapidly-lengthening to-read list--reveals the identity of "Obama's Perfect Foil." Who does he have in mind? Why, none other than Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.

And reading what Salam has to say about him, I'm starting to agree. Referring to Indianapolis's business-friendly policies, Salam writes:

Daniels, a Lugar protégé, has taken the Indianapolis model statewide. Every state agency has been pushed to offer a higher quality of service to the public at lower cost. Faced with the real possibility of outsourcing, once-slothful bureaucracies like the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles have become as customer-friendly as the best top-performing companies.

Hard to argue with that, I suppose. Politically, a Daniels pick would make sense. Even though Indiana turned blue this year, Daniels comfortably held on to the governor's office. He'd bolster GOP support in the Midwest and would help restore an image of fiscal responsibility to the party.

Only one problem, as far as I can see. As Salam points out:

There will never be a cult of personality around Daniels, who is hardly known for his soaring rhetoric. He's a mild-mannered, unassuming and unpretentious Midwesterner.

In fact, he's a bit dorky looking, thin and bald and (to be quite frank) rodentic. Sorry, but it's true. Could he compete with Mr. Uber Cool himself? It all depends on whether Obama's halo is still shining in 2012.