New York’s George Pataki ended his run for the White House before it ever began.
A spokesman this week had said the former three-term New York governor was “seriously considering” a bid for the presidency.
On Friday, Pataki canceled that possibility, along with a scheduled appearance at a GOP fundraiser today in Des Moines.
“Today, my family and I have reached the very difficult decision not to seek the office of president of the United States,” Pataki said in a statement.
“While I have chosen not to run, I remain committed to the cause and will support a candidate who offers the vision, the ideas and the leadership to bring an end to America’s debt crisis.”
The fundraiser Pataki pulled out of — a picnic at the Iowa State Fairgrounds — will feature appearances by current GOP candidates Ron Paul, Thaddeus McCotter and Rick Perry.
Polk County GOP Chairman Kevin McLaughlin said he regretted Pataki’s cancellation.
Pataki emphasized in his statement that he would continue to focus on decreasing U.S. debt.
“President Obama and his misguided policies are bankrupting America, stealing from our children’s future, and he must be defeated next November,” he said.
“It is incumbent upon our party to come forward with serious solutions to preserve our future and ensure America’s continued greatness. I remain committed to the advancement of real, politically viable reforms to entitlements and rolling back the size and cost of the federal government.”
As a Republican with a record for supporting abortion rights, Pataki would have been forced to find a moderate slice of the GOP field not already taken by Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman, both of whom are fellow ex-governors.
A spokesman this week had said the former three-term New York governor was “seriously considering” a bid for the presidency.
On Friday, Pataki canceled that possibility, along with a scheduled appearance at a GOP fundraiser today in Des Moines.
“Today, my family and I have reached the very difficult decision not to seek the office of president of the United States,” Pataki said in a statement.
“While I have chosen not to run, I remain committed to the cause and will support a candidate who offers the vision, the ideas and the leadership to bring an end to America’s debt crisis.”
The fundraiser Pataki pulled out of — a picnic at the Iowa State Fairgrounds — will feature appearances by current GOP candidates Ron Paul, Thaddeus McCotter and Rick Perry.
Polk County GOP Chairman Kevin McLaughlin said he regretted Pataki’s cancellation.
Pataki emphasized in his statement that he would continue to focus on decreasing U.S. debt.
“President Obama and his misguided policies are bankrupting America, stealing from our children’s future, and he must be defeated next November,” he said.
“It is incumbent upon our party to come forward with serious solutions to preserve our future and ensure America’s continued greatness. I remain committed to the advancement of real, politically viable reforms to entitlements and rolling back the size and cost of the federal government.”
As a Republican with a record for supporting abortion rights, Pataki would have been forced to find a moderate slice of the GOP field not already taken by Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman, both of whom are fellow ex-governors.
Register staff writer Jennifer Jacobs contributed to this report.
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