Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) announced that "he will not seek a second term, setting the stage for an expected campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination," the Boston Globe reports.
"Romney, ending months of speculation about his political future, said he will serve out his four-year term, which ends in January 2007. Although he has spent a year positioning himself as a presidential candidate and acknowledged he was testing the presidential waters, the governor yesterday insisted his decision had nothing to do with his national ambitions."
The Boston Herald notes Romney "said he would serve out his remaining year, quashing rumors that he might step down early to hand the post off to Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey (R), though he said he would endorse her candidacy."