Hi Shane, sorry no there isn't any way currently set up for a script to be able to activate that with a shortcut key.

But if your object is planar you'll have the edit frame showing in the 3D view as well and you can click the rotation grip there to activate the "wheel mode" rotation.

- Michael

Thanks Michael, I see that with curves and a planar surface but the edit frame does not seen to show for something like a cube.

Hi Shane, yes the edit frame is focused on 2D editing and it only shows in the 3D view on planar objects.

- Michael