It's a first in the nation landmark. Governor Mitch Daniels will sign a bill passed by the Indiana legislature to defund Planned Parenthood.

A matter of conscience? Or a pander to the GOP base by a politician thinking of running for president? USA Today:

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said today he will sign a controversial bill that cuts off government funding to Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider.

Indiana will become the first state to take such action.

"I supported this bill from the outset, and the recent addition of language guarding against the spending of tax dollars to support abortions creates no reason to alter my position," said Daniels, a Republican.

The governor is currently weighing whether to run for president next year. Daniels has drawn fire for saying there should be "a truce on the so-called social issues until the economic crisis is resolved."

Daniels said he expects to sign the Indiana bill in the next week or so.

As with all humans, there are probably mixed motives at work. Daniels is trying to repair the damage he did with his crack about having a "truce" on social issues for the campaign. At the same time, he is pro-life and has supported this effort in the past.

As a base political calculation, Daniels is trying not to close any doors if he decides to run. But it is questionable whether the friends he gains will outnumber the enemies he makes by signing the bill.