Baron Hill gears up for statewide race in 2012

From David Hawpe in the C-J...

Across the river, Rep. Baron Hill is quietly going about the business of considering a run for the governorship of Indiana.

OK, this is an old story. Back in 2003, Business First reported that Hill..."reportedly had been considering" a try for the position then held by the late Gov. Frank O'Bannon.

In 2007, the Evans-Novak Political Report said that Hill "may actually be preparing" for a run against Gov. Mitch Daniels....

Then, last month, Hill spoke at an annual Democratic dinner in the 3rd District.

This speculation, as Hawpe notes, is old news. Baron is likely to have a difficult time in the 9th District in 2012-- because of redistricting by a likely-Republican State Senate and a race made much more difficult if Obama's popularity swoons. Beyond his potential U.S. House troubles, a move to the U.S. Senate or the Governor's chair might be quite attractive to him.

Then, Hawpe gets a little weird...

From time to time, I have thought about suggesting that Hill — a bright and capable person, always pleasant, and never in danger of being scolded by Miss Manners — consider John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage for bedtime reading.

First, I've never heard Hill described in those terms. (Not that Hawpe is incorrect; I just haven't heard that description before.)

Second, from there, Hawpe details what he sees as overly-cautious, what Hill would describe as prudential, and what Hill's opponents would describe as opportunism, fence-sitting and a general lack of principle.