Lyn Hey / AP Photo
Mike Huckabee will not run for president in 2012. The former governor of Arkansas made the announcement during a live broadcast of his show on Fox News on Saturday night. Polling had suggested that he would be a very strong candidate for the nomination, but Huckabee said that while external factors pointed toward a run, he found an “inexplicable inner peace” when he decided against running. His decision means that his vote share, which would have been about 25 to 30 percent, is now open to other candidates. Additionally, the Iowa caucuses will be more competitive now, as he would have been a favorite. Huckabee had become very successful in the private sector and he recently said he disliked much about running for president. He also said he felt President Obama would be more difficult to beat than many Republicans thought.