Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) said he is not advising fellow Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) on his presidential campaign. Barbour, at one point considering his own presidential run, told Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC that he is not advising any candidate, and he doesn't intend to endorse anyone.

He did, however, stick up for Perry for his comments on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

"I don't take it as offensive to say that we would not treat you nice,” Barbour said. “We treat you nice. We like you, and we're proud to have you down here. That isn't exactly threatening language to most people."

About secession: "If somebody thought he was saying that seriously a couple years ago, that would be one thing, but everybody knew then he was joking about it. ...He's going to get nitpicked, because he's the governor of Texas, because the liberal media elite dislike George Bush so much, and he reminds them of him. As I say, conservative, Christian, Republican, Southerner. He needs to understand he doesn't have the liberty to say things loosely that somebody else might."

Barbour said he doesn't know of anyone else looking to get into the GOP contest, but doesn't think it’s impossible either.

"As Rick showed, you can get in late,” Barbour said. “This field reminds me of the Democratic presidential campaigns that I've watched in the past, where there wasn't a real front runner and somebody who a year-and-a-half before the election didn't seem to have a chance came out and won a nomination.... That could happen on our side, even though we don't normally have a contest that looks like this."

At last December's Republican Governors Association meeting in San Diego, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) gave a clue about his eventual decision not to run for president in 2012.

Reporters in attendance asked Barbour, 63, what his presidential decision would hinge on. His answer: Whether or not this is what he wanted to spend the next 10 years of his life doing -- two years running for the office, four years in first term, and another four years in a second term.

And it turned out to be the explanation he gave today, when he announced he won't jump into the 2012 race.

"A candidate for president today is embracing a 10-year commitment to an all-consuming effort, to the virtual exclusion of all else," Barbour said in a statement. "His (or her) supporters expect and deserve no less than absolute fire in the belly from their candidate. I cannot offer that with certainty, and total certainty is required."

Yet there was another certainty for Barbour: His path to the presidency would have been a difficult one.

Part of it was lack of name ID, especially outside the Washington Beltway. In the most recent NBC/WSJ poll, only 1% of national GOP primary voters said Barbour was their top choice for president in a potential field of nine Republican candidates.

In a smaller five-candidate field, Barbour's support ticked up to just 3%.

Another part was geography. Being the governor of Mississippi -- a solid Republican state in presidential elections -- most likely wouldn't have benefited a Barbour-led ticket in a general election.

And a final part was resume. In that same NBC/WSJ poll, being a former lobbyist -- as Barbour was before becoming governor -- was viewed as the worst candidate attribute, worse than having multiple marriages, being a FOX News commentator, or being a leader of the Tea Party movement.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour announced Monday that he will NOT run for president in 2012, saying that he cannot offer the "absolute fire in the belly" needed for the job with the "total certainty" he would owe his supporters.

Here's Barbour's full statement:

"I will not be a candidate for president next year. This has been a difficult, personal decision, and I am very grateful to my family for their total support of my going forward, had that been what I decided.

"Hundreds of people have encouraged me to run and offered both to give and raise money for a presidential campaign. Many volunteers have organized events in support of my pursuing the race. Some have dedicated virtually full time to setting up preliminary organizations in critical, early states and to helping plan what has been several months of intensive activity.

"I greatly appreciate each and every one of them and all their outstanding efforts. If I have disappointed any of them in this decision, I sincerely regret it.

"A candidate for president today is embracing a ten-year commitment to an all-consuming effort, to the virtual exclusion of all else. His (or her) supporters expect and deserve no less than absolute fire in the belly from their candidate. I cannot offer that with certainty, and total certainty is required.

"This decision means I will continue my job as Governor Mississippi, my role in the Republican Governors Association and my efforts to elect a new Republican president in 2012, as the stakes for the nation require that effort to be successful."

From NBC's Catherine Chomiak
Visiting New Hampshire today, Mississippi Gov. and potential GOP presidential candidate Haley Barbour faced questions about Washington. His second trip to the Granite State this year included a stop by a Hooksett restaurant and gun shop as well as some questions about the budget.
 
While shaking local patrons’ hands, one man asked him about the budget deal that passed in the House today. The man, concerned that the continuing resolution didn’t deliver the types of cuts Republicans promised, called the numbers “dishonest,” referring to the $38.5 billion spending-cut deal the Congressional Budget Office now estimates only creates $350 million in savings for this year (but includes bigger cuts in future years).

“We’ve got three bites at the apple,” Barbour explained, “We’ve had the little bite at the apple. Next, we hit the debt ceiling. The debt ceiling is our maximum point of leverage. And then we have the real budget. And so, I’m not harsh on the House guys.”
           
Barbour also weighed in on the GOP budget proposal by Rep. Paul Ryan. “The main thing Congressman Ryan did is he was direct with the American people, upfront with the American people. President Obama says currently entitlements are not sustainable, but he’s never proposed doing anything about it until, maybe he did yesterday,” Barbour said referencing Obama’s speech in Washington yesterday.
           
If Barbour were in Obama’s shoes right now his plan would be, “economic growth and spending cuts together get you a balanced budget.”
           
Barbour also addressed the birther issue, brought back to life by another potential Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. “I just accept at face value that the president’s born where he says he’s born,” Barbour said flatly.
           
While in the first-in-the-nation primary state Barbour dismissed the notion of running for vice president and joked, “Any Republican candidate for president who can’t carry Mississippi probably is not going to get very far.”

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Before activists here, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS) and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) gave a glimpse of what they might focus on if they launch likely presidential runs -- and they revealed different approaches and priorities.

Barbour focused largely on the economy.

"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing," Barbour joked, adding, "and the main thing is economic growth."

Barbour was generally well received, and earlier in the week, he showed no qualms in expressing his emotion on the issue of abortion. But with Iowa being a caucus state dominated by social conservatives, some attendees in the hallways and in the audience questioned that focus.

Another speaker, Emmett McGroarty, on a panel on family values, wrapped his speech with what appeared to be a mild shot at Barbour. He said social-conservative values are part of "the main thing, and that's the main thing I'm focused on today."

That drew a mix of laughs and applause.

As he's said before, Barbour stressed that the presidential election needs to be about policy, "because these are the wrong policies. ... These policies make it harder to create jobs."

Barbour showed a mix of humor and seriousness, as he also criticized President Obama for the health-care overhaul law and the administration's energy policy. He described the energy policy not as an "energy" one, but "an environmental policy." He said the policy is to "drive up the cost of energy, so people wont use it."

"We need more oil; we need more gas; we need more coal; we need more nuclear; we need more American energy," Barbour said, adding that the U.S. should also generate energy from wood and waste. "We need all of the above," he added.

Gingrich also hit Obama on energy and health care, but stressed values first as well as foreign policy. Notably, even though he mentioned values as a top priority, he did not speak at length about it. He instead focused much of his speech on other topics, including the president's handling of the situation in Libya.

In the past week, Gingrich has faced charges of flip-flopping on Libya -- being for a no-fly zone before he was against it. He argued today that he moved on his position, because, "I was just trying to follow Obama." That was met with polite laughter.

He went on to argue that if someone were to say jump in the lake, he would have said no. But "once we’re in the lake, I say, "Swim as fast as you can."

Gingrich said the administration has sent a "confused" message on its goals in Libya. The goal, Gingrich said, should -- unequivocally -- be to take out Khaddafy. He even called for ground troops -- just not American ground troops.

In a brief question-and-answer session in the hallways here with reporters after his speech, he attempted to clarify. He said there should be American-trained Arab "advisers," already in the region, who should help the rebels and try to oust Khaddafy.

"We need to be clear the goal is to get rid of Khaddafy," Gingrich said. He called the administration's message "obscure and inaccurate" and added that the "confusing" message helps Khaddafy's supporters because they are "confused about what we're doing."

He demurred, however, when asked if it was a mistake for former President George W. Bush to try and bring Khaddafy back into the fold diplomatically.

He also hit Obama for not consulting closely enough with Congress.

"When the president decides to take the country to war," Gingrich said, "there needs to be a serious public dialogue." He added the president needs to go to Congress for a supplemental to fund the military action.

From NBC's Catherine Chomiak
Mississippi governor and potential Republican presidential candidate Haley Barbour weighed in several times this week not only on President Obama’s handling of the situation in Libya, but also what Barbour said was the Obama administration’s overall lack of leadership over the last two years.

On Tuesday, while in Nevada to meet with Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) and other Republican lawmakers, Barbour was at first measured in his criticism. "When our men and women are involved in military action I think we need to be very careful about critiquing the administration,” he said.

But he went on to say that “the administration dithered a long time before making a decision” and that the U.S. should not take orders from the UN, NATO or wait for permission from the Arab League.

“When it is in our interests and the needs of the United States require us to take military action, sure we should consult our allies, but we should not wait for them to tell us what to do,” he added.

In radio interview in his home state yesterday, Barbour went further and criticized the administration on leadership. “Since World War II, the world has looked to America for leadership,” Barbour said, “But we haven’t provided leadership in this administration.  In fact, the Obama administration’s position has been to say, you know, we’re just one of the boys, so we’re not going to try to be the leader.”

Barbour also questioned the end goal of the operations, warning that the U.S. should be “careful…about getting into nation-building exercises.”

On a lighter note, as Barbour walked out of the building the Tuesday press conference was held in he quipped to the cameramen shooting him, “Make me look thin!”  The recently trimmer Barbour has previously joked that his weight could be an indication he might be running for president.  The Hill reported, back in June of 2010, Barbour saying, “If you see me losing 40 pounds that means I’m either running or have cancer.” In March, USA TODAY quotes Barbour as saying, “I hope I can lose some more.”

From NBC’s Catherine Chomiak
Mississippi governor potential Republican presidential candidate, Haley Barbour, said today in Nevada it would take a “campaign that is about policy” to defeat President Obama in 2012.

“The 2010 campaign was the most massive repudiation of any administration’s policies in American history,” he said in a brief interview with NBC affiliate KNVR. “The American people know all that spending, wanting to raising tax, after tax, after tax, exploding deficits, gargantuan debt, a health care bill that is going to drive up the cost of health care and an energy policy that’s hurting the economy. That all of those things made it harder to have economic growth and job creation.”

Barbour is in Nevada today to meet with Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) and other Republican lawmakers. He acknowledged that Nevada is an important early primary state as well as a critical swing state in the general election. Barbour also reiterated that his final decision, whether to run or not, wouldn’t come until the end of April.

The Des Moines Register gets Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R), while in D.C. for the National Governors Association meeting, to break down the potential GOP presidential field.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, 2008 caucus winner: “I’m not even sure he’s going to run. But if he does, I think he’s obviously the favorite.”

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty: A “fine governor” and Iowa neighbor “going about it in the right way. He’s putting an organization together.”

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour: “I go way back with him. Don’t underestimate Haley.”

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels: “The first governor that really took the fiscal bull by the horns.”

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum: “There are a lot of social conservatives in Iowa.”

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: “He’s not going to spend as much money or as much organization in Iowa” as he did in 2008.

*** UPDATE *** Branstad made these remarks to PBS. Apologies to our friends there.

A year ago, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS) said, "If you see I lose 40 pounds, you'll know I'm either running or got cancer.”

A Barbour adviser today told Politics Daily's Jill Lawrence that he’s about halfway there.

"He hasn't lost 40 pounds," the adviser said. "He might be halfway there. So read into that what you will."

From NBC's Chuck Todd and Mark Murray

Gov. Haley Barbour at his office in Jackson, Mississippi.

Courtesy of the Republican Jewish Coalition, Mississippi Gov. (and potential presidential candidate) Haley Barbour (R) is headed to Israel.

He'll be in the country from Feb. 5-9. Per a release from the RJC:

This will be the second time that the RJC has had the privilege of taking Governor Barbour to Israel. The organization also hosted him in 1994, when he was chairman of the Republican National Committee.

This trip will include briefings and meetings with senior leaders in Israel, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It will also include touring important sites in the country. In addition, given the Governor's strong interest in energy issues, there will be visits to several sites such as the Noble Energy offshore gas rig and the Better Place electric car facility outside Tel Aviv. The trip will conclude with Governor Barbour making a major address at the prestigious Herzliya Conference on February 9.