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Donald Trump Will Not Run For President In 2012

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- It seems like Donald Trump won't be adding presidential candidate to his list of achievements after all.

After months of flirting with running for office, Trump said Monday he won't run for president, choosing to stick with hosting "The Celebrity Apprentice'' over a bid for the Republican nomination.

Trump's office released an official statement outlining The Donald's reasons for bowing out of the 2012 presidential race . The news came as a surprise to some, especially considering the ground Trump was gaining among 2012 Republican hopefuls.

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In the past few months, he delivered speeches to national GOP groups and traveled to early primary states like New Hampshire and Nevada. During that time, he reignited the so-called "birther'' controversy by perpetuating falsehoods about Obama's birth place, insisting that questions were unanswered about whether the president was born in Hawaii.

He amassed admiration from many on the far right who have insisted Obama was born overseas and, thus, wasn't eligible to serve as president.

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Obama finally distributed his long-form birth certificate earlier this month, indirectly casting Trump as a carnival barker and the controversy as a sideshow. Trump took credit for the release even though it robbed his candidacy of its signature issue.

Just last month, a CNN nationwide poll of adult Republicans showed Trump tied for the presidential lead with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, at 19 percent each. Sarah Palin, the 2008 vice presidential nominee, was third at 12 percent.

A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll also showed Huckabee and Trump tied for second, at 17 percent each. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney led with 22 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich had 11 percent, and Palin 10 percent.

Huckabee dropped out of the race on Saturday.

Below is the full text of Trump's statement:

After considerable deliberation and reflection, I have decided not to pursue the office of the Presidency. This decision does not come easily or without regret; especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country. I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election.

I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognize that running for public office cannot be done half heartedly. Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector.

I want to personally thank the millions of Americans who have joined the various Trump grassroots movements and written me letters and e-mails encouraging me to run. My gratitude for your faith and trust in me could never be expressed properly in words.

So, I make you this promise: that I will continue to voice my opinions loudly and help to shape our politician's thoughts.  My ability to bring important economic and foreign policy issues to the forefront of the national dialogue is perhaps my greatest asset and one of the most valuable services I can provide to this country.

I will continue to push our President and the country's policy makers to address the dire challenges arising from our unsustainable debt structure and increasing lack of global competitiveness.  Issues, including getting tough on China and other countries that are methodically and systematically taking advantage of the United States, were seldom mentioned before I brought them to the forefront of the country's conversation.

They are now being debated vigorously. I will also continue to push for job creation, an initiative that should be this country's top priority and something that I know a lot about. I will not shy away from expressing the opinions that so many of you share yet don't have a medium through which to articulate.

I look forward to supporting the candidate who is the most qualified to help us tackle our country's most important issues and am hopeful that, when this person emerges, he or she will have the courage to take on the challenges of the Office and be the agent of change that this country so desperately needs.

Thank you and God Bless America!

Donald J. Trump

Are you happy, sad or indifferent that Trump dropped out of the race? Share your comments below

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