http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/barbour-decides-against-presidential-run/?ref=politics

As the election of 2012 is nearing the list of future candidates is beginning to unfold. This election seems to be unlike any other and it will be unique in itself. We have yet to hear from many possible candidates who are holding off until the last minute so that they can gather themselves and decide for sure whether or not running for president is the best idea for them. For example in this article Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi who was a tentative republican candidate for the election has chosen not to run as a personal decision. This came as a surprise to many people of both parties because in the past few months Barbour has been traveling around to different states to test the support of Republican activists. Barbour and many others just do not think they can commit to the long term commitment that ensues when one runs for president. This committment lasts upwards of 10 years. This proves a bit too much for some no matter how commited to the party they may be, even someone like Barbour who has an impressive political background. Mr. Barbour has worked on the very first political campaign of Richard Nixon back in 1960. As the article states, and I agree with this, "he would be dealing with a much different Republican party than he would have back then." The tea party movement has really changed many aspects of the party and this according to the article would be a challenge for Barbour because of his uneasy relationship with them. In my experience of researching the tea party you are either with them or your not and there usually is not a middle ground.