Contact: Bob Sturm, 703-396-6974; Ryan Rogge, 703-674-6948

MANASSAS, Va., April 26, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is a statement by Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, on the decision of Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour not to run for president:

"Haley Barbour is an exceedingly smart politician with a finely-tuned political ear. This is evidenced in part by his decision not to run for president...

"I suspect that on a short list of real reasons why Governor Barbour opted out of the presidential race is that he realized his basic philosophy of government and of governing are out of sync with the Republican primary voters in 2011 and 2012.

"President Obama, America's financial crises, and the Tea Party, all arriving at about the same time, have radically changed American politics for the foreseeable future...

"Most Americans see people like Barbour -- who was one of America's largest, most powerful and successful Washington lobbyists -- as a major reason we find ourselves in our current financial pickle. If you wanted to expand government, spend more taxpayer money, or regulate business so that your Fortune 500 company received an advantage over your business competitor, Haley Barbour was your man who would make it happen.

"Today's voters better understand that America's ruling class has abused their positions in power to advantage themselves and their friends at the expense of the rest of us...

"I suspect Barbour decided against running because he recognized that people feel betrayed by the ruling class and want to return to the vision of our country's Founders of a small, constitutional government -- and that is not Haley Barbour.

"Advice to the other ruling-class Republican presidential wannabes: Ask not for whom the bells toll, for they toll for thee. The times, they have changed."

NOTE TO EDITORS: Richard A. Viguerie pioneered political direct mail and has been called "one of the creators of the modern conservative movement" (The Nation) and one of the "conservatives of the century"(Washington Times). He is the author of Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause.