The Hill News

The decision by the GOP establishment's would-be savior, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, to bow out of the 2012 presidential race at 3 a.m. Sunday as the nation slept was all former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty needed. Less than 24 hours after Daniels withdrew from contention, Pawlenty took his announcement video off the shelf, became an official candidate and told us what we already knew: Now that the less-than-eager contenders have dropped out of the pack, he is running, and he is eager.

Republican Party stalwarts remain worried and will continue to call, email and visit Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, urging them â€" no, begging them â€" to run. But a murky primary field has suddenly become quite clear; the three former governors, Pawlenty of Minnesota, Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Jon Huntsman of Utah, are now the top three candidates in the race.

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