No because i didnt think he was going to run to begin with. I think he has made a very wise decision. There is nothing wrong with testing the waters that is what he was doing and pound the water chilly. A lot of former donors or staffers didnt want him to win because they didnt think he can win, the nomination or the general, or they preferred other candidates. You have a herd of people running. Totally different than in 2012 when romney was the giant in the field. Now there are lots of giants running. This helps to clarify the battle for the republican spot and for mitt romney i think he could only go down as the campaign progressed. I think he was unlikely to be the nominee. Lets look at the polling where he stood. He was atop the field according to our new poll. 21 liked him to be the nominee and huckabee and rand paul are tied. Romney was out front in the poll. Yes, he was but look at the history of the early polls. They can be deceptive and often very wrong. People are responding mainly to the names and are not thinking through the combinations of people running nor the issues that my might emerge during the campaign. After having been the nominee in 2012 and afection for undertaking that task would he have gained additional points . He was likely to lose as people got to know the other candidates. I hear what you are saying but i want to throw another poll where mitt romney is standing against Hilary Clinton and he is the only republican in the field who ties her. Both of them obviously very wellknown politicians and both ran for president before but mitt romney is the only one in the field that ties her. That doesnt give you second thoughts . Not really. And you said the right words right now. We are still close to two years, more than a year and a half away from the general election. I think the republicans want to move in another direction. On the whole they were disappointed with the Campaign Romney ran in 2012. They are all asking the key question what would be different this time . And the camp never came up with an answer. They had we will run a more authentic race. So does that mean the romneys before wasnt authentic. The republicans will be better to clarify their running race earlier rather than later. Let look at a poll without romney. Jeb bush 15 . Mike huckabee with 13 and rand paul 13 . Ben carson scott walker, and Chris Christie round out the bottom three. Is this jeb bushs race to lose . Or are the polls still too early and inaccurate . I will tell you that as a preference but i will tell you jeb bush is ahead more so now. He has to run about scott and christie still and others. But at 15 i dont call that a front runner. Certainly not heavy and not much of a front runner at all. This is one of the mostome open races in history and we are likely to see the largest field of candidates in either party than ever. History suggests that after one party has controlled the white house for two consecutive terms voters like to go to the other party but if they have the opportunity to put a woman in the white house from the party that has been in there for two terms they might think different. Is Hilary Clinton the biggest obstacle to the republicans . I think that is obvious. She is likely to be the nominee. She is going to run on being the first but she is she is not going to just run on that. You cannot run a campaign saying elect me i will be the first woman president. She is smart enough to not do that. It is tough for a party to get a third term. It is possible. George h bush did it in 88. But nixon in 60 and gore in 2000 they havent been able to stretch their twoterm occupancy of the white house into more. But those races were very close. 2000 was very close. 1960 was very close. So you cannot define this as being an open and shut historical aanalogynatural analogy. But you can say it is an advantage to be running against a none incumbent. His ability to run the olympics and his record in massachusetts were big for romney although the republicans were wishy washy about his massachusetts record, but i wonder if putting him on a cabinet might be considered by a republican. Do you go into the campaign and say mitt romney has agreed to be the secretary of commerce or Something Like that . Sure. If a candidate or a nominee thinks it will help them win the election you can be sure they will do it. Think of george w bush. He made it clear Collin Powell was going to be the secretary of state. He was poplar and it was reassuring to voters so it might be done if it benefits the nominee. The late polls matter in the fall of 2016. This benefits jeb bush the most obviously. They were kind of the same candidate. These establishment candidates with ties to bigger donors ge establishment money. What about the lower tier candidates . Is there one you can name who you think the absence of mitt romney benefits the most . Well you have to include Chris Christie in the establishment tier. I think it is easier for bush to compete with christie for lots of different reasons. I will mention lots of candidates who benefit from this. I bet most of you end up picking up some romney staffers a few romney donors and they will tout. I would think it opens up the top tier for another candidate. Is it scott walker who did well over the weekend at the iowa freedom form. Is the Mike Huckabee . Or marco rubio . We are seeing he is not under jeb bushs thoughts as much as we thought. He might run. Larry stick with us if you would. I am going to read more of the statement that mitt romney read on the Conference Call. He said i feel it is critical america elects a conservative leader to become the next president. I have wanted to be the president but i dont want to make it difficult for someone to emerge who may have a better chance of running for president. You cannot you cannot imagine how hard it is for ann and i to step a side. I want to ask bret baier about this, who is live from washington, d. C. , i believe the next generation of Republican Leaders, one who might not be as wellknown as i am or taken their message across the count ray, one who is just getting started, may emerge as being able to better defeat the democrat nominee. The question is is he speaking about something specifically. Brett, do you think he has one republican in mind as he writes and says the statement . We dont know that yet. He met with it is a money game. Mitt romney came out saying the finance is there. As you mentioned it is a big question. He is saying no in a statement he is not going to show a pac or take donations or he is not doing what other politicians have done. What about this contribution to the Campaign Season that started simply by his presence and perhaps passing the torch, if you will, to another candidate. I think he is saying i have done my run looked at it and it isnt going to happen. He campaigned in 25 states for the midterms. He was out and about before november. And i think he has come to the conclusion this is the end of the run on this type of president ial run. I think the other person we have not mentioned who might benefit here is senator marco rubio. Mitt romney has an aggressive Foreign Policy stance. Rubio is wellpositioned in that sphere to capitalize on some republicans who are concerned about the Foreign Policy of the United States and maybe positioned differently than other republicans, namely rand paul and others. We will see if the reference to the next generation of Republican Leaders is so many familiar names and new names like marco rubio in the bunch i think it is going to be interesting to see. Brett, if you would stick with us along with larry, we have to take a break. The third time will not be the charm for mitt romney. He has run twice. Succeeded in grabbing the republican nomination last time around but says he is not running for the white house in 2016. More with our guest coming up. Bret baier in washington, d. C. Is here as we continue to digest the news at mitt romney isnt going to be running. It dominated a lot of airtime over the last several week and quite a few people believed yes indeed he was running as early as this morning. What is next now this name is cleared from the list . A couple things. One is what he had with his donors or had meetings he had that he heard about one way or the other. That is why everybody thought he was running and trying to lock up donors. What is next . The Republican Party is breathing a sigh of relief overall because they dont have the clash of the titans. It frees up the ability for the process to move forward. The interesting thing is going to be who capitalizes quickly and you setup to the summer and that is where things gel. We host the first debate on fox in cleveland, ohio in august and that is a kick off to the iowa caucus and the november primary. What do you do with the notes . Keep them in the office . I have plenty just in case. Larry is still here. Do you have a question for larry . Yeah it is interesting. Mitt romney said in a statement on a Conference Call with reporters and he said i have been asked if anything would change my mind and he said that is unlikely. Larry he said he believes a republican winning the white house is essential to the country and he said i will do whatever i can to make it happen. There is some love in the Republican Party for mitt romney. Maybe some republicans think he lost a winable election but there is clearly some appreciation for the race he ran and his contributions to this point. Does he become an endorsing . E he become an endorsing . Endorser . Appear on the Campaign Trial with several candidates . Does he wait until there is nominee until one is selected and then help . How is he an aid on the campaign trail . I think he imagines a roll in the general election and maybe someone who can braining the Party Together during the later stages of the nomination. There is going to be a lot of upsets and i dont know how bret is going to get enough questions to handle all of the candidates. Romney is the elder leader of the party, the immediate past nominee. I dont think he will endorse anybody early. Listening to the his statements that was an encouragement to the younger candidates who are lesser known. Doesnt seem like jeb bush to me seemed to be a slap at jeb bush if you will. Exactly. Bush and maybe christie. But the lesser known candidates will be sighting that. And just so you know bret has be building the lanterns. A long day ahead. The white house is weighing n on the ownership of Guantanamo Bay. The next guest explains why United States presence is necessary on the island and also legal. We learn about the factors that caused the economy to grow at a slower than usual rate in the last three months of the year last year. We will get into that next. Right now youre gonna ask for my credit card so you can charge me on the down low two weeks later look, credit karma are you talking to websites again . This website says free credit scores. Oh. Credit karma yeah, its really free. Look, you dont even have to put in your credit card information. What . credit karma. Really free credit scores. Really. Free. I could talk to you all day. Push your enterprise and you can move the world. But to get from the old way to the new youll need the right it infrastructure. From a partner who knows how to make your enterprise more agile, borderless and secure. Hp helps business move on all the possibilities of today. And stay ready for everything that is still to come. 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Its 80 confidence and 64 knee brace. Thats more. Shh. I know thats more than 100 . But thats what winners give. Now bicycle kick your old 401 k into an ira. I know, i know. Listen, just get td ameritrades rollover consultants on the horn. Theyll guide you through the whole process. Its simple. Even she could do it. Whatever, janet. For all the confidence you need. Td ameritrade. You got this. A fox news alert. Big news of mitt romney announcing he is not running for president. We continue to check the wire and twitter to see if there is any reaction from the high profile republicans and we have yet to see any. We will continue to watch the action and bring you the latest as we get it. Now this fox business alert. The economy slowing down in the last three months of 2014. The first read of the Gross Domestic Product is 2. 6 and that is down from the previous six months. Laura is here joining us. Hi jon and jenna, everyone went shopping over the holidays so thank you. But you might be still paying the bills. Strong consumer numbers. The best in nine years helped the United States economy grow 2. 6 at the end of the year. But that pace was less than wall street expected and it was down from the prior quarters growth. Weak Business Investment and weaker Government Spending with less equipment purchases and software. So growth cause 2. 4 for 2014 and that was a tad better than 20102013. But economist say business will be better in 2015 because of the money saved on gasoline. So the question is are we taking a turn and will Slower Growth eversee ever oversea overseas affect us . We send a lot overseas and less demand would be an issue there. I am still paying off the christmas bills. I think. It was hard. But it is good for the economy. Check in on foxbusiness. Com channelfinder to find fox business in your area. The white house is saying they have no plans to return Guantanamo Bay to cuba. Castro is saying his countrys control of the base is necessary for normalizing ties with the United States. This would be a huge reversal in policy between the two. Our next guest detailed how presence at Guantanamo Bay is necessary and legal and not easily overturned and we have a former secretary of defense for the detainees. It is nice to see you both. Take us back. When we talk about Guantanamo Bay we are only thinking about the context of recent history but our history for the naval base goes back more than a hundred years. It does. Most people think of the detention mission which is 122 detainees. But it has been in our possession since 1901 and in 1903 they signed the first contract and it is important to world war one. The u. S. Naval fleet used Guantanamo Bay as a Training Facility for ships and in world war ii it was important for the Atlantic Fleet and aviation. During the cuban missile crisis and the bay of pigs we used Guantanamo Bay for access and since then counter drug operations and military training exercises. The lease was renewed in 1934. There is no reason whatsoever because of the terms of the lease, that we should give the naval base back to the cuban government what is at odds now . The actual detention facility. When you go back to the 1930s and 1900s the lease doesnt talk about having a detention facility on the base. It talks about the base being for use of naval stations and coaling and no other purpose. Does that put the detention facility at odds or in jeopardy if we are looking at reviewing the relationships and perhaps cuba pushing back . Fidel has been complaining since 1959 since taking power, that the base is illegal. He complain said in 1997 to Barbara Walters it was illegal. He is spouting the family line here. The fact is the naval station has had a variety of missions from humanitarian revert efforts to others. It has a detention facility for terrorist right now. And that will go away but for now we need the base. When you look at the map and the caribbean and where ships need to go to get there we need the base for a variety of reasons. Some day the castros will be gone real quick, if the president wants to close the detention facility and cuba wants something, could the president and cuba unilaterally make an agreement where we keep the base but not the detention facility . Of course this president wants the detention facility to close so i dont think that would be part of the discussion. The real question is whether the president can give the base back to the cubans and i doubt it. It is subject to the plat amendment, a congressional act at the turn of the century, and i doubt he can do that. We have seen executive orders so curious how it will play. The rumbling you hear is the ground shaking under the republican candidates as mitt romney is out of the white house running officially. Is all of the talk already at saturation levels . We will get into that with our media panel. And a murder trial begins 35 years after the death of a little boy in the tragic case that shaped the countrys approach to a live report from new york at the court house. You know, just because your bladder is changing, it doesnt mean you have to. With tena, let yourself go. Be the one with the crazy laugh. And keep being their favorite playmate. With tenas unique super absorbent micro beads that lock in moisture and odor. Tena lets you be you. A fox news alert. Mitt romney is not going to be a candidate for president in 2016. Governor romney making that announcement for supporters and staff in a Conference Call just moments ago at the top of the hour. Already some potential gop contenders who benefit from his decision are weighing in. Just a moment ago, jeb bush tweeting mitt is a patriot and i join many in hoping his days of serving the party are not over. Jude ay miller is here linn sweet is here. And lynn lets start with you. I may have mischaracterized your opinion of all of this coverage you say it isnt overdone. Not yet. You talk about saturation and i dont think we are at a damp level. You have a lot of news because a lot of news is happening, including this morning the news of mitt romney not going to run. You know so that takes one player out a little bit. We are in the season where people are announcing so it is natural to have a lot of political news. We are in the run up to a giant election with no obvious republican front runner and you have the obsession with Hilary Clinton. I think there is room for more news. Without mitt romney in the race you may have seen the discussion early, jeb bush is shown to be the number one candidate but i think he is at 15 without romney in the race. 15 among selfidentified gop candidates. Interesting, too judy we are in a new era which facebook and twitter are reaching out to voters and so forth. That is how jeb bush made the assessment of the absence of governor romney. Even if the legacy media are not putting it out there the candidates are going do social media to reach the voters right. I have to agree with lynn here. I think the fact that social media covers this so intensely and the candidates feel compelled to put their own views or their own tweets or have an aid do it for them reflects an interest among the American People in the upcoming race. And i think why i would use the word saturation to apply to deflategate and i know you will not agree with this jon even super bowl coverage but i think there is a hunger for good solid information about the candidates and who they are, what their views and what they say about each other. Even though 57 of the American People say they think campaigns are too long judy we know what a football fan you are and at the end of the segment we will talk about this more. Yes this is true. No i think one of the interesting things about the romney with drawl is not only the pounding he took the minute he expressed serious interest in making a third try, but the fact that most of the big money was already committed. When jeb bush came to new york several weeks ago and started raising money it was clear he left with a lot of commitments and that must have been very daunting for someone like romney who knows how much these races cost. I wonder whether or not this race will be as negative as the last race. Another thing we see when we do the pugh polling is that people are consistently unhappy with the negative nature of the campaigns and the candidates and the coverage. We will see if that changes. I doubt it. I think you are right. And all of the Campaign Consultants say negative campaigning works. I dont get it myself. And that is why they spend millions on the negative campaign ads. I am sorry, judy, we are out of time. And dont have time for your prediction. I am so deflated. Maybe you can come on monday and tell us who won. Maybe not. The trial is getting underway unin one of the most notorious missing child cases. The 16yearold disappeared in 1979 while walking to his School Bus Stop in downtown manhattan. A friend of the familys baby sitter emerged as a suspect but in 2012 30 years after the boy disappeared, police say a man who worked nearby, Pedro Hernandez, confessed to killing him and was arrested and charged with Second Degree murder the next day. Rick is following the trial live from the new york state supreme court. Reporter this stunned new york city and had a ripple affect across america. He was walking to the School Bus Stop on his own for the first time and disappeared. He was one of the first missing children to appear on a milk carton but his body was never found. And 35 years after pate vanished Pedro Hernandez is being charge would the murder. He was a teenager working nearby. He told friends and neighbors he harmed a child in new york and in 2012 he confessed to police he offered the boy a soda loured him to the basement and choked him and put him in a trash bag and left him in an alley. The prosecutor called the boy a tiny man with a big heart. Hernandez pled not guilty. The defense says he was questioned six hours low iq disorders and on antidepress antidepressants and point to another guy when he is being questioned and the man was later sued by the parents who won a judgment who he refused to testify. The police say hernandez is the murderer here. We will watch closely over the months. A guy is suing Southwest Airlines after luggage fell on top of him. Does he have a case . Our legal panel takes up in a sebbed. Cond. A Southwest Airlines passenger is suing the airline for 49,000 claiming on overside bag fell on him during boarding and he suffered a torn disk and suffers from headaches and nausea and that is why he needs money. We have rebecca and frazier here. I will go to rebecca here. You say he has a case here . Absolutely. He was minding his own business sitting in his seat and hit by a heavy object. He has the right to be angry and seek compensation. Airlines need to do more this doesnt keep happening. It happens a lot i have seen it. It wasnt a fellow flier trying to stuff the bag into the overhead bin but it was the Flight Attendant and that is why he is suing he said no he is suing because they have deep pockets. They alert passengers. How many times have we seen people get bags taken away . This guy is in his seat and has to see what is going on around him. He doesnt look up or move . Are you saying this because you dont fly commercial . I do. But when someone is trying to stuff a bag above my head i get up and move. Or you get up and help. He is seeking 10,000 in medical expenses, 5,000 in loss income and 34,000 for pain and suffering. Does the dollars make sense . Lon he is not seeking very much. If you have people are minor injuries it is hardeasier to get away. Folks may be getting hurt but no way to seek compensation. I am glad he is suing it is annoying fred, when you see the people bring on the big bags and try to stuff them. They have been told not bring them on but they do anyway. Is this a way to get people to follow the policy and airlines take it more seriously . First of all the airlines do take it seriously. That is the problem. Rebecca is right about a lot. The guy was hurt because someone violated the policy and i can tell you they are strict about this stuff. If he sued the passenger do you think he would have a case . Not the airline . Of course but the passenger doesnt have money so that is why he is suing the airline. Would he be more successful suing the guy who brought the bag on . The passenger doesnt know the faa regulations. Airlines are supposed to make sure they are not too heavy. It is the airlines t of the package i am super annoyed when i see people bringing the big bags on. And now i am carrying a baby on. Dont put the baby in the baggage compartment. I tried. He doesnt fit. He gets his own seat. It is southwest bags that fly for free so that is why you dont need to put the heavy stuff up above. It is very annoying waiting for your bags. The founder of a rap record label who already had a wrap sheet is now charged with firstdegree murder. How shug night ended up bebehind bars. Issuingsuge knight a fox news alert and more flooding in from the announcement that mitt romney is not going to run. There is a small pool of people who are capable of putting together a president ial campaign campaign. Here is a statement from his former campaign manager. He said mitt romney is a good guy and always does the right thing for the party. Working with him was a cherished time and i look forward to what he is going do to help and hopes he saves me a seat. Suge knight is now behind bars and accused of murder. We have more on this. William . Reporter police say suge knight, short for sugar bear is a killer. His Attorney Says the incident was an accident. Knight turned himself in after midnight and hours later he was charged with murder in a death of a former Business Partner and injuring an actor bone sloan who may have been the actual target. Police believe this is what happened. He was a shoot for an upcoming movie and he got into an argument and left with a friend terry carter. The confrontation continued at a restaurant. Knight attempted to leave and gunned his truck and allegedly ran over both men accidently hitting his friend while witnesses say aiming for sloan. His Attorney Says when the investigation is over knight will be cleared. Knight went to start up the car, put it in drive and he hit terry carter and ran him over. The people said it looked like a potential act so we are handling it ozas homicide. Reporter knight was on bail for theft. His wrap sheet is very long. He was in the vehicle when tupac was shot. He is known as a promoter and successful music producer and best known of course for producing people like mc hammer as well as snoop dog and of course tupac. Brand news stories for the next hour of happening now. The fighting intensifies between ukraine and prorussian rebels. Are western leaders underestimated putin . And doctors refusing patients that dont vaccinate but what about their oath . Do they have an obligation to help anyone no matter what they have or havent done . You know i never get tired of my job, but like you i think about my retirement years, and like you i wonder have we done enough to plan for them. A reverse mortgage is a Great Program that could help you live a better retirement. Plus, there have been a lot of enhancements made to the reverse mortgage. Its new, its improved and its safer for you your spouse and your heirs. A reverse mortgage allows you to live comfortably in your home without the burden of a monthly payment. Want to know how it works . Call one reverse mortgage now to get your questions answered and ask for your free guide. Some people ask me do i still get to keep my home . And the answer is yes. You remain the owner of your home. Its worth a call to find out how you can benefit from the new and improved reverse mortgage. Jon see you back here in one hour. Jenna outnumbered starts now. This is a fox news alert. Big political news today. Mitt romney announcing he will not run for the 2016 republican nomination. This is outnumbered, im andrea tan terrace. Here is today, harris faulkner, melissa francis, actress stacey dash and todays oneluckyguy, actor, producer author and, of course hercules [laughter] hollywoods kevin sorbo. Hes outnumbered. Good to be back, thanks. And a big news day. It is. Lots of politics. Usually. And we cant wait to get your thoughts. And since youre hercules you dont care