Thune for President?

Chris Cilizza at the Washington Post has an interesting assessment of the presidential prospects of Senator John Thune of South Dakota. Thune has been taking a wait-and-see attitude toward a possible run in 2012, neither ruling it in or out.

Cilizza says that GOP strategists are most enthusiastic about a prospective bid. I’ve heard similar sentiments. And Thune is well-positioned to champion issues that will have broad appeal among conservative grassroots. If Mitch Daniels runs, he would likely be the favorite of movement conservatives. But Thune will have strong credibility with conservatives, too, having been an early and outspoken critic of TARP and the various bailouts.