A lot of conservatives were waiting breathlessly for Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) to announce that he was running for president. I got an e-mail from Richard Viguerie touting him as the only conservative who was worthy of his support. Well, according to the Indianapolis Star, it looks like they’re going to be disappointed.

“In the choice between seeking national office and serving Indiana in some capacity, we choose Indiana,” Pence, R-Columbus, said of himself and wife Karen in a letter being sent to supporters. “We will not seek the Republican nomination for president in 2012.”

He said he would make a decision “later this year” about what his next political step is, but by not running for president it is considered a virtual certainty that he will run for the GOP nomination for governor.

I don’t think I could make a living as a political prognosticator, but something tells me that if Mike Pence is passing up the 2012 race, the serious base of the GOP is basically conceding the election to Barack Obama. They’re going to let the flashes in the pan like Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, and Sharron Angle go out there and contend with Mike Huckabee, Tim Pawlenty, and Newt Gingrich, beat themselves to a pulp until Mitt Romney can step in and become the 21st century version of Tom Dewey, and lose respectfully to the incumbent. Then, having proved that the Tea Party and the womenfolk have had their chance and lost, the insiders like Mr. Viguerie and Karl Rove will bide their time until 2016 when they can come roaring back with someone like Mike Pence or Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as the “mainstream” Republican alternative.

Granted, neither of them are more moderate than the wingnuts, but they are not going around the country talking about target practice, and at least they will have stayed in office rather than quit to rake in the cash from book tours.

HT to TPM.