Haley Barbour leaves Sally at the political altar
04/25/2011
Haley Barbour's surprise decision to leave Sally Bradshaw at the political altar by dropping out of the 2012 presidential campaign leaves Florida wide open to the rest of the Republican field.
Bradshaw won't be lonely long. The jilted political bride will have no shortage of political suitors. Will Mitt Romney give her a call? Bradshaw helped his 2008 Florida campaign and many thought she would be back with him this time.
But when the governor of the "milk" state asked her to help his campaign, there was no way Bradshaw would pass up the opportunity to work for a fellow Mississippian.
Now Bradshaw is candidateless - but Crowley Political Report predicts she won't stay that way for long.
A look at Barbour's announcement follows:
"I will not be a candidate for president next year. 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.
"Hundreds of people have encouraged me to run and offered both to give and raise money for a presidential campaign. Many volunteers have organized events in support of my pursuing the race. 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.
"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.
"This decision means I will continue my job as Governor Mississippi, my role in the Republican Governors Association and my efforts to elect a new Republican president in 2012, as the stakes for the nation require that effort to be successful."
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