So former New York Gov. George Pataki is not running for president. Repeat: Not running.
That small bit of news brings to an end one of the stranger chapters of the 2012 race, in which the former governor of New York walked right up to the line of a bid, despite confusion from nearly all quarters — including among the New York GOP.
Pataki’s run was becoming so expected that even Mitt Romney mentioned it on the trail recently. But that’s not to say it was understood, which it really wasn’t. Pataki carries much of the same baggage of Jon Huntmsan — he believes in climate change, he supports gay rights and (unlike Huntmsan) he’s pro-choice.
Not a lot of room for that kind of candidacy in the Tea Party-fueled GOP field these days. And so Pataki is not going to make a run for it.
Moving on…
