Fox Wants Decision on Huckabee's 2012 Prez Bid Plans

Howard Kurtz at The Daily Beast writes:

The network wants a yes or no on whether the governor-turned-TV host is running for the White House. But Huckabee tells Howard Kurtz he feels no pressure at all.

Mike Huckabee may be running out of time to make a decision on running for president.

It's not that the former Arkansas governor feels any political imperative to speed up his timetable. But his Fox News bosses would like him either to jump into the White House race soon or announce that he's taking a pass.

In March, Fox suspended two contributors, Newt Gingrich and former Sen. Rick Santorum, for taking concrete steps toward a presidential bid. No action was taken on two others, Huckabee and Sarah Palin, but Huckabee's status may be coming to a head.

Bill Shine, the network's executive vice president for programming, told The Daily Beast that "like we did with Gingrich and Santorum, we are continuing to monitor the situation and will take action if and when we think it is necessary." Fox has planned a meeting with Huckabee in the near future to discuss the matter, said Shine.

Huckabee said the notion that Fox is pressuring him over the situation is "total nonsense. Your source is full of it," he told me by email. "No pressure at all. Fox has been very understanding and they know and I know that if I take steps to be a candidate (ask for money, support, or set up a committee), then I will step aside. That's been understood from the beginning."

True, but some executives are concerned about Huckabee continuing to host a weekend show while stoking interest in a possible second presidential campaign. "It's getting uncomfortable," said a Fox insider.

One event that has raised the discomfort level at Fox is Huckabee's decision to accept a prime speaking slot at a National Rifle Association convention in Pittsburgh this weekend. The NRA is a major force in Republican politics.

Huckabee met quietly with Donald Trump this month and said he came away convinced the developer would jump in the race. Politico described the meeting as part of a listening tour for Huckabee to sound out possible donors.