Frist says he won't make White House run

POSTED: 12:10 p.m. EST, November 29, 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Wednesday he will not run for president in 2008, the most high-profile campaign dropout among Republicans more than a year before the first convention delegates are chosen.

"In the Bible, God tells us for everything there is a season, and for me, for now, this season of being an elected official has come to a close. I do not intend to run for president in 2008," Frist said in a statement -- his only planned comment on the decision.

Earlier, Frist had decided not to seek a third term in the Senate. His announcement Wednesday caps a 12-year stint in electoral politics in which he rose from an underdog in his 1994 Senate campaign to the position of majority leader a mere eight years later.

Among the Republicans already exploring a White House bid are Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney also is considering pursuing the GOP nomination.

Other potential GOP contenders include Sens. Sam Brownback of Kansas and Charles Hagel of Nebraska, Govs. George Pataki of New York and Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, and Rep. Duncan Hunter of California.

Comments

[Mark Twain]

It's good to see that God has finally provided the former Senator with proper guidance. But, it would have been nice to see the values fosted by the faithful Dr. Frist challenged by the the values fostered by the faithful Sen. Obama. Obama is ready to engage the religious right on its "faith based intiatives" and bring the church vote back to the party that truly represents its values - the Democratic Party. Too bad Bill... I guess there is always 2012.