Politics

With Eyes On 2016 GOP Nomination, Mike Huckabee Leaving Fox News [VIDEO]

With Eyes On 2016 GOP Nomination, Mike Huckabee Leaving Fox News [VIDEO]
Al Weaver Reporter
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On his Fox News show Saturday night, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee announced that he will be leaving the network immediately as he determines his political future and, possibly, prepares a run for the GOP nomination in 2016.

“There has been a great deal of speculation as to whether I would run for president. If I were willing to absolutely rule that out, I could keep doing this show,” Huckabee said. “But I can’t make such a declaration.”

“I won’t make a decision about running until late in the spring of 2015, but the continued chatter has put Fox News into a position that is not fair to them nor is it possible for me to openly determine political and financial support to justify a race,” Huckabee said. “The honorable thing to do at this point is to end my tenure here at Fox.”

“As much as I have loved doing the show, I cannot bring myself to rule out another presidential run,” the former governor said. “So as we say in television, stay tuned!”

A Fox News spokesperson confirmed Saturday evening that the network has “amicably parted ways” with the former GOP governor, saying it “was in the best of both of their interests.”

With the move, the former governor will be letting go of his Saturday night primetime show, “Huckabee,” which he has hosted since September, 2008.

Huckabee previously ran for the White House in 2008, finishing as runner-up to Sen. John McCain. Highlighting his run seven years ago was his defeat of Mitt Romney, 34-25, in the Iowa Caucuses.

The former governor becomes the second potential GOP candidate to announce his intentions, following former Florida governor Jeb Bush’s pre-holiday announcement on Facebook. (RELATED: Jeb Bush Moves Closer To Announcing A Run For President)

Almost two months ago, Huckabee made waves when he threatened to leave the GOP and become an independent if the party abandoned opposition to gay marriage and abortion. (RELATED: Huckabee Threatens To Leave GOP Over Gay Marriage, Abortion)

“If the Republicans want to lose guys like me — and a whole bunch of still God-fearing Bible-believing people — go ahead and just abdicate on this issue, and while you’re at it, go ahead and say abortion doesn’t matter, either,” Huckabee said in October. “Because at that point, you lose me.”

“I’m gone. I’ll become an independent. I’ll start finding people that have guts to stand. I’m tired of this.”

As Huckabee announcement made its way through the Twittersphere Saturday night, some of the more prominent voices at FNC chimed in, talking highly of their former colleague while giving their two cents on a potential run for the nomination.