House

Peter King rules out 2016 bid

by Jesse Byrnes - 07/01/15 6:05 PM ET

Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) has ruled out a 2016 White House bid, he announced Wednesday.

“It’s just not in the cards. I don’t want to be taking up other people’s time,” King said on CNN’s “Wolf,” noting his position on the House Homeland Security and Intelligence committees.

{mosads}King, known for his hawkish views on national security, also said he was exploring a presidential bid out of concern GOP Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.) and Ted Cruz (Texas) were “monopolizing the airwaves.”

“They were getting out what they thought was their Republican message. I wanted to counter that. I think I’ve been somewhat successful in doing that,” King said on CNN.

“There are candidates in the race raising national defense issues,” he added.

King said he has paid many trips to the early voting state of New Hampshire recently and said back in May that the odds were “50-50” that he would enter the extremely crowded GOP field.

He has not yet endorsed any Republicans but said on CNN he was “leaning toward” former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former New York Gov. George Pataki, among others.

Tags Peter King Rand Paul Ted Cruz