Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum Out at Fox; Is Mike Huckabee Next?

Fox News will no longer put up with the waffle of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Sen. Rick Santorum. The conservative network has terminated their contracts. Both contributors were given until May 1 to decide whether they will run for president and no announcement has been forthcoming.

Fox suspended them in early March and stopped paying them, giving them time to consider whether they are in or out of a 2012 run for the White House. They had the option of returning had they so decided a week ago. Race watchers say Gingrich's repeated insistence that he has "business obligations" really means he is a presidential candidate.

Rumors are flying that Fox gave one of its show hosts, Florida's Mike Huckabee, an ultimatum to declare his candidacy by the end of May "or else."

"There is no truth whatsoever to this report," said Bill Shine, the executive vice president of programming for Fox.