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Mike Pence has spent more than a decade courting the deep-pocketed small-government cadre that has come to dominate Republican politics: The Koch brothers, the Club for Growth and the Heritage Foundation.

He turned their heads by opposing President George W. Bushs No Child Left Behind education bill in 2001; captured their imagination by leading a revolt against the expansion of Medicare into prescription drug coverage in 2003; and won their loyalty with a 2004 speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference that took the GOP to task for veering off course into big-government Republicanism.

Now, Pence is in his second year as governor of Indiana, and some of the very same Republicans who once thought of the former radio talk-show host as their voice on the U.S. House floor want him in the 2016 Republican presidential contest.

I have no doubt that he would make a great president, said Steven Chancellor, the chief executive officer of Evansville, Indiana-based American Patriot Group, the parent of a company that makes ready-to-eat rations for the Pentagon. He certainly distinguished himself in the House and is off to a great start as governor.

White knight or dark horse, Republicans are searching for a candidate who can unite the partys pro-business establishment with its small-government activists, particularly now that New Jersey Governor Chris Christies bridge scandal has left a void in the presidential field. Pences allies say the temperate-toned executive has a record that pleases the staunchest defense hawks, anti-tax groups and abortion-rights opponents.

Pence is extremely well thought of on the conservative side and has a lot of support from the mainstream, as well, said Chancellor, who has encouraged Pence to run in subtle ways, even though he also likes former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and South Dakota Senator John Thune as prospective candidates.

Part of the challenge for Pence, 54, is that he would have to distinguish himself from a bumper crop of Republican governors with longer records who are also potential candidates. They include Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Bush. Grover Norquist, president of the Washington-based Americans for Tax Reform, said Pence has to answer this question after just slightly more than a year running Indiana: How do I compete with people who have done a whole bunch?

And even though hes a favorite of some of the wealthiest Republican donors, many of those contributors have also given to other potential Republican hopefuls.

Pence said last week that hes listening to those who want him to run for president, and his campaign reports show he can raise enough money to compete.

When he ran for governor, billionaire industrialist David H. Koch poured $200,000 into the campaign, according to Indiana campaign finance records. Angies List co-founder Bill Oesterle of Indianapolis kicked in $100,000, and Waltham, Massachusetts-based buyout specialist J.W. Childs added $50,000 to Pences coffers.

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Mike Pence, a Koch Favorite, Mulls 2016 Run for President