Gov. Daniels parts with GOP field on possible spending cuts deal

Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-Ind.) said Monday he would be willing to consider a deal that was 10-to-one spending cuts to tax increases, if he were a Republican presidential candidate.

The current Republican field rejected the idea at a recent presidential debate.

Debate moderator posed the question: "Say you had a deal, a real spending cuts deal, 10-to-1, spending cuts to tax increases... who on this stage would walk away from that deal? Can you raise your hand if you feel so strongly about not raising taxes, you'd walk away on the 10-to-1 deal?"

All eight candidates raised their hands.

Commentators called this an "iconic" moment in the 2012 campaign thus far.

"I would not have raised my hand," Daniels said in an interview with CBS News political analyst John Dickerson.

"I would have instantly been called on to explain that," Daniels said. "I would have said, not I'll take the deal, but tell me more."

Daniels, who ruled out his own presidential bid earlier this year, said he'd be against taxes that "hurt growth," citing higher income taxes and higher taxes on investment income.

"It would be a mistake the close the door. We need the 90% imaginary or hypothetical spending cuts here," Daniels, author of "Keeping the Republic: Saving America by Trusting Americans," said.

Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum participated in the Fox News/Washington Examiner debate in Ames, Iowa August 11.