Is it finally time to count Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) out of the veepstakes?

The Indianapolis Star confirmed the popular outgoing governor will become the next president of Purdue University.

Early this year, Republicans often mentioned Daniels as a potential running mate for presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney. But in recent interviews, Daniels never seemed too jazzed about the possibility of coming back to Washington, D.C., to serve in his administration.

“[I] don’t want to, don’t intend to, hope not to, don’t expect to and I think there are better choices,” he told Roll Call in an April interview in Indianapolis.

Daniels spent more than a decade working in Washington, D.C., starting as Sen. Dick Lugar’s (R-Ind.) top aide in the late 1970s and most recently serving as director of the Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush. In 2004, Daniels successfully ran for governor of the Hoosier State.

No reaction yet from the Indiana delegation, including Lugar, the governor’s political mentor. The university will reportedly make an official announcement about Daniels on Thursday.