Daniels wins Indiana GOP governor nomination

Former White House Budget Director Mitch Daniels won a decisive victory over his opponent last night to win the Republican nomination for governor of Indiana. Daniels captured 66 percent of the vote to defeat attorney Eric Miller, according to media reports.

Daniels now faces incumbent Democratic Gov. Joe Kernan in November. Kernan, who took office in September following the death of Gov. Frank O'Bannon, is seeking his first full term as governor in the fall election.

Daniels, 55, left his post as director of the Office of Management and Budget in May 2003 and filed papers the following month to seek the Indiana GOP gubernatorial nomination. He had served as OMB director since January 2001.

Previously, Daniels was employed in several positions with the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co. of Indianapolis from 1990 to 2000. He began his career in 1971 as an aide to then-Indianapolis Mayor Richard Luger, currently Indiana's sole Republication senator, and has held various positions in business, law and politics. The Indiana governor's race is his first bid for elective office.