Pence: No plans for 2012 Oval Office run

Congressman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) has been doing some traveling to a few strategic states these days which raised eyebrows over at Roll Call. :

The official purpose of House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence’s (Ind.) trip to South Carolina this month is to attend fundraisers on behalf of his House colleagues. But the trip is fueling speculation that the Indiana Republican is charting a course for higher office. 

Over the past few months, Pence has traveled to Iowa and California for various speaking engagements and Member fundraisers. 

This summer, he was a fixture at anti-tax and anti-spending “tea parties” around the country and has continued to champion the movement through speeches in the House. 

After delivering a rousing speech at the National Tea Party protest on the National Mall last month, Pence worked the crowd, shaking hands with the demonstrators as his campaign staff passed out small cards featuring his photo above the words “Mike Pence, Standing Strong.” The back of the card invited voters to “Join the Pence Team.” 

At the Values Voters Summit last month, Pence came in a close fifth in a straw poll behind former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. 

However, Congressman Pence told the Washington Times tonight he has no plans for the presidency in 2012.

"I have no plans to run for president.  We did had a few volunteers that came out from Indiana to pass out contact information for us for our website[at the 9/12 rally]…people who want to join us on Twitter…people who want to visit the website."

Mr. Pence addressed the Americans for Prosperity Foundation's Defending American Dream Summit this evening in Washington DC.