WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former New York Gov. George Pataki will not run for the Republican presidential nomination, a source close to him told CNN.
Pataki, who had been flirting with a White House bid for months, was scheduled to appear this weekend in the key early voting state of Iowa.
Speculation was that the former three-term governor would announce his candidacy Saturday at the Polk County Republican fundraiser.
But the source said that Pataki, who seriously considered running, has decided instead to forgo a run for the GOP nomination.
In a statement released Friday Pataki said, “I remain committed to the advancement of real, politically viable reforms to entitlements and rolling back the size and cost of the federal government. At this time, I will continue to do this as the leader of No American Debt and not as a candidate for president. Throughout the coming months I will remain active in this important discussion and support the candidate who offers the vision, the ideas and the leadership to bring an end to America's debt crisis."
Pataki is another moderate Republican who realizes that today's GOP is not hospitable to moderates, so they have to pretend to be conservatives, like Romney, or wait until 2016.
Pataki would have to suck up to the tea baggers who only see solving problems in black and white, they will never stray into the grey area of compromise and see those who do as traitors. Pataki knows that the tea baggers runs off of emotions a d feelings. Je knows if you put facts or reasons to these people you will probably get extradited. They want to believe what they feel and if your not lying to support their fanatic thinking you should be be cleansed of your heresy. These people are moving right at the speed of light. They will only pay attention to you if you say all manner of evil about our president, and say the most outrageous and untruthful words that can come out of your mouth. The only stipulations is that it cannot be truthful, and it must be against this president. They'll find away to justify and repeat it a million times until the gullible in our society start believing it.
The first on a list of clowns who saw the light! Every republikan thinks they can be president. Secessionists, traitors, "visionaries", liars, cheaters, halfd truthers, god talkers, haters and the list goes on and on.
The rethugs have become quite pathetic and dangerous all at the same time.
Pataki, you are real man. Take your time.
He is what most people would consider a moderate. In this day, that won't win the nomination and would earn ridecule.
Pataki is a wise republican not to have his name added to the list of crackpots in the republican party running for president. What a bunch of nut case right wingers!
..He knows, he won't have a snowballs chance in hell to win. I did not like this guy, he'll fool you. He was not good for New York State. He left, New York with a big deficit. Why he got re-elected? I have no clue. People, don't turn out and vote like they should. And they, stay, stuck on stupid politicians...................
Pataki isn't radical enough to be the TEAbublican nominee. Besides, he has a japanese last name which is a no go in GOTea politics.
There is no room in the republican party for a candidate who does not cater to the crazy right wingnuts. Republicans have been wrong on every important issue for 30 years, and they are not about to change.