2011 KY AG race

From his Facebook note:

After many hours of reflection, conversations and prayer with family, friends, advisors and others, I want to announce, today, that I will not be a candidate for Attorney General — or any other office — in 2011. While I am not ruling out a campaign in future years, I am confident that this is the best decision for my family and me.

I appreciate all the encouragement from past supporters as well as complete strangers to run for Attorney General. In the final analysis, at this time, I want to spend more time with Nancy and the girls than an elective office will allow.

This desire was brought home to me a few weeks ago during the annual post-election Republican State Central Committee meeting. It was great to see so many of the candidates who won on Election Day. There were smiles on the faces of everyone in the room, including my own, about the Election Day outcomes. On the inside, however, I was torn, because to attend the meeting, I had to miss my youngest daughter Kate’s first-ever basketball game. As the girls have grown older, these conflicts are becoming more common and more difficult to address.

Even as I had meetings and conversations with many friends and stakeholders about a race in 2011, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wouldn’t be able to reconcile my desire to have more family time with another grueling, statewide campaign and the extensive time required to be a successful elected official. So for the past few weeks, even going back before the November election, I have been leaning against running.

Some may say that this decision is related to Jack Conway’s announcement that he plans to seek re-election. It is not. I am confident of my ability to wage a successful campaign against Jack next November. I believe that more Kentuckians share my view that the Attorney General can and should play an important role in fighting the unconstitutional and anti-Kentucky actions of the federal government in areas like health care, energy and agricultural policy. I was looking forward to the two of us waging a vigorous but fair campaign, since we both respect each other. So, no, his announcement didn’t deter me from running.

What his announcement did, however, was move up my timetable. I had originally thought that I would discuss the decision in-depth with my family during Thanksgiving break, much as Nancy and I did during November 2002 about my first run for Secretary of State. So this weekend, in addition to working with the girls on dribbling, serving, raking leaves and making brownies, I spent a great deal of time thinking, praying and talking with Nancy. Ultimately, the decision was easy.

Insert Teabagger.

Want to try it again, Stan Lee?