Last week NPR Political Editor Ken Rudin ranked several Republican Governors by their likelihood of reaching the White House. He calls it “a completely unscientific, data-free exercise,” but it’s interesting to see.

Mark Sanford most likely lost his number nine spot last week, and Sarah Palin’s position could go up or down after she leaves office, but the rest of the list makes sense.

1. Tim Pawlenty (MN)
2. Jon Huntsman (UT)
3. Haley Barbour (MS)
4. Bobby Jindal (LA)
5. Charlie Crist (FL)
6. Mitch Daniels (IN)
7. Sarah Palin (AK)
8. Rick Perry (TX)
9. Mark Sanford (SC)
10. Jodi Rell (CT)

See number six? It’s Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. I’m not sure how Hoosiers feel about their governor, but national political writers sure do love him. Chris Cillizza said Daniels’ re-election bid was the best gubernatorial campaign of 2008. That same year, Governing Magazine named Daniels one of the year’s eight best public officials. Daniels has denied having any presidential aspirations, but it’s funny how quickly politicians forget claims like that when primary season rolls around. If you are an Indiana resident, do you support Daniels’ as governor and would you support him if he ran for president? Do you agree that he’s more likely to win than Sarah Palin?

You can see the full list here. Do you think Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons is upset that he’s ranked below Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is ineligible to be president?