Looks Like George Pataki is Not Entering 2012 GOP Field

CNN is reporting that former Gov. George Pataki of New York will not enter the Republican presidential contest. Pataki is heading out to Iowa on Saturday and the buzz was that he was entering the GOP field. This is not the first time that the former governor kicked over running for the presidency before deciding not to -- he did much the same thing in the 2000 and 2008 presidential races. So what was Pataki up to running commercials in Iowa and New Hampshire for organizations he was affiliated with?

While Gerald Ford urged George W. Bush to consider dumping Dick Cheney for Pataki or former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 2004, the former governor would remain a dark horse to be added to the 2012 Republican ticket. Even with Pataki, the Republican candidate would probably not be able to carry New York and conservatives would have problems with his record on social issues. Still, Pataki amassed a solid record in Albany and would be a natural fit to serve in any Republican administration. Bush plucked a few former governors for his Cabinet -- Tom Ridge, Tommy Thompson and Christine Todd Whitman.