Another one bites the dust

Mitch Daniels resigns.

WASHINGTON, May 6 (UPI) -- Mitch Daniels Jr., the head of the White House's Office of Management and Budget who serves as the Bush administration's chief number cruncher, resigned Tuesday.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Daniels resignation, which was made in a letter to President George W. Bush, will take effect in 30 days.

"The president tremendously appreciates his service to the nation," Fleischer said.

He said Bush considered Daniels a good leader and strong man and a "wise steward of the tax dollar."

No reason was given for Daniels' departure, but there has long been speculation that he intends to a run for Indiana's governorship.

Daniels' resignation comes amid Bush's continued hard push for Congress to pass his $550 billion economic stimulus package, which includes accelerated tax cuts.

Daniels was a pharmaceutical industry executive before joining the administration following Bush's win in the 2000 election.

From 1971 to 1982, he was an aide to Richard Lugar, R-Ind., when Lugar was the mayor of Indianapolis and then when he was elected to the Senate.

A replacement for Daniels has not been announced.

Update 5/8: BuzzFlash broke the news yesterday that Daniels' resignation may not be so innocent. Joe Conason adds some details and links.