JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said Monday that he will not run for president in 2012 — a surprising move from the well-connected former lobbyist who had already hired staffers in key states and toured the country meeting with state Republican leaders.
“I will not be a candidate for president next year,” Barbour said in a statement. “This has been a difficult, personal decision, and I am very grateful to my family for their total support of my going forward, had that been what I decided.”
The 63-year-old former Republican National Committee chairman and current Republican Governors Association chairman had fueled expectations of a possible run by hiring high-profile staffers in early primary states and visiting all four early nominating states — Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina — to meet with voters and state Republican leaders.
“Hundreds of people have encouraged me to run and offered both to give and raise money for a presidential campaign,” Barbour said Monday.
“Some have dedicated virtually full time to setting up preliminary organizations in critical, early states and to helping plan what has been several months of intensive activity. I greatly appreciate each and every one of them and all their outstanding efforts. If I have disappointed any of them in this decision, I sincerely regret it.”
Barbour had said previously he would make his decision before the end of the month — after the Mississippi legislative session ended — and was widely expected to reveal his intentions this week.
According to media reports, Barbour — a term-limited governor whose time in office expires in January — made his decision Monday morning.
Speculation on a potential Barbour bid peaked last month when key political operatives in Florida and New Hampshire — both critical early primary states — signed on with the Mississippi stalwart.
Sally Bradshaw, who worked on the 2008 Florida Republican primary campaign for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and New Hampshire political strategist Mike Dennehy, who was Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) national political director during the 2008 presidential race, had signed on with Barbour, increasing his national profile.
But political analysts began speculating that Barbour, who continually finished near last place in recent polls in important early states, may not insert his name into the field after his wife told reporters that the personal sacrifice their family would have to make if he ran “horrifies” her.
Marsha Barbour expressed reluctance to devote 10 years — two on the campaign trail and up to eight years in office — of “the last part of our productive lives” to the White House.
Barbour’s own comments Monday appeared to reflect a similar sentiment.
“A candidate for president today is embracing a ten-year commitment to an all-consuming effort, to the virtual exclusion of all else. His (or her) supporters expect and deserve no less than absolute fire in the belly from their candidate. I cannot offer that with certainty, and total certainty is required.”
Barbour’s age and health may have also contributed to the decision. Last week, he underwent routine surgery to relieve lower back pain.
Barbour’s decision to not enter the race leaves the current field of top-tier candidates who have explicitly stated their intention to challenge President Barack Obama in 2012 at two.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty have both said they will form presidential exploratory committees, which allows them to test support and financial viability ahead of a full-scale announcement.
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum has also formed an exploratory committee, and the field of Republican candidates is expected to grow in the coming weeks and months.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann are all widely expected to announce bids in the next few months.
Barbour’s announcement will also likely increase the speculative chatter surrounding potential bids from Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Political insiders have theorized that Daniels — who was budget director for President George W. Bush — and Barbour have discussed an informal agreement under which Daniels would only run if Barbour decided not to.
Barbour’s decision may also hint that fellow southerner Huckabee – who could appeal to many of the same Republican voters — is leaning toward a run.
Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucuses in 2008 and finished second in the delegate count to eventual Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), consistently registers at the top of favorability polls in the 2012 Republican field, but has been largely mum on a decision this time around.