The Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the state’s largest broad-based business association, today announced its endorsement of Republican Mitch Daniels for governor. This marks the first time in the Chamber’s 86-year history that it has publicly endorsed a gubernatorial candidate.

“This was a decision we didn’t enter into lightly, but ultimately we felt that given the current, difficult economic times, we needed to make what is for us a historic stance with the governor’s race,” offers Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar.

“Our support for Gov. Daniels is based on in-depth interviews we had with both major party candidates for our BizVoice magazine, carefully watching the debates and reviewing the policy plans put forth, and then determining whose major initiatives are most in line with the ‘Letters to Our Leaders’ public policy campaign we released this summer.”

“On top of that, Gov. Daniels’ record of accomplishment, particularly in the areas of job creation, innovation and sound financial management, has been critical to our state’s success and will allow Indiana to better compete into the 21st century,” Brinegar stresses.

“We may not always agree with the governor on everything – or should we expect to – but there exists an alignment of key policies and priorities that we feel is in the best interest of our nearly 5,000 member companies and the over 800,000 workers they employ and families they support.”

Adds Andre Lacy, Indiana Chamber board chairman, “A job allows employees to pay their mortgage, send their children to school and take care of their families. That’s why keeping a positive economic climate for business is so vital to our citizens’ quality of life.

“Indiana’s performance has been head and shoulders above its Midwestern neighbors and most others across the country. Our state's AAA credit rating is a good example. We must continue to elevate our state in order to have that competitive advantage when it comes to business and job location, the rightsizing of local government, training for our existing workers and so much more that impacts Hoosiers every day. That’s why keeping Gov. Daniels – someone who has demonstrated his ability to achieve success in these areas – in office is so important for our state.”

The determination to endorse Gov. Mitch Daniels was made by the Indiana Chamber executive committee, the organization’s primary governing body. The Chamber’s political action arm, Indiana Business for Responsive Government, has made endorsements in General Assembly races since its inception in 1986.

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The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has been the state’s largest broad-based business advocacy organization for 86 years. The more than 4,800 member companies employ 800,000 Hoosier workers.