Pence to step down from House leadership position in next Congress?

[Mr. Morden]

This has been rumored in the past, but it's reiterated here:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44201.html

and here:

http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/political/Pence-Leaving-Leadership-Position-105815013.html

You must be logged in to read this quote.

That would mean that, if the GOP takes the House, the House Majority Whip position would be open, and the current buzz is that Kevin McCarthy would be the favorite for that job.  Pence is refusing to confirm or deny these stories:

http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/politics/congressman-pence-speaks-to-rumors

but I guess we'll find out within the next week or so, as we see who decides to run for leadership positions in the next Congress.

[Mr. Morden]

I was with him on a bus the other day.....

What?  Why were you taking the bus with Mike Pence?

[Mr. Morden]

It's official.  Pence is stepping down from the leadership:

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/127455-pence-steps-down-as-no-3-republican-in-house

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Mr. Morden]

A TV station in Fort Wayne (with the call letters WANE....har har) is reporting that a Republican official in Allen County has been told directly by Pence staffers that he's running for governor.  But those are anonymous sources who aren't going on the record.  Publicly, Pence's people still say he hasn't decided:

http://www.wane.com/dpp/elections/pence-defeats-welsh

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Mr. Morden]

To be clear, *publicly* at least, Pence has not confirmed that he's running for governor.  He has not indicated whether he's going to run for president, or governor, or none of the above.  When asked about it on "This Week", he said that he'll announce a decision on his future plans some time "after the first of the year":

http://www.gop12.com/2010/11/pence-2012-decision-after-january.html