Draft Mitch! Ctd

Maybe we've spent too much time on this already, but a reader writes:

I'm a 5'9" resident of Indianapolis who occasionally has seen Mitch Daniels in public.  If he's 5'7", then I'm the starting center for the Indiana Pacers. 

Ideally, it shouldn't matter.  But Mitch is a tiny, tiny man of well below average height.  5'3" does strike me as a little low, but it is more plausible than 5'7".  There's no easy way to determine the truth. The Times seems to acknowledge that, noting in the linked article that Daniels is "listed at" 5'7" - not that he "is" 5'7".

Another writes:

His purported height of 5'7" is somewhat of a running joke here in Indiana. I've stood next to him many times and I'd say the 5'3" figure is about right. I can't recall any politician of his stature (pardon the pun) that is less of a physical presence.

Another:

Mitch Daniels works out at my gym in downtown Indianapolis.  I'm 5'5" on a good day.  I can confirm that he is 5'3", NOT 5'7"!

The Wiki page for presidential height is here. Mitch would be the shortest president at 5'3'', an inch below James Madison.

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