Romney Passes on Fox '12 in '12' Series

Fox News will begin airing one-hour profiles of 12 possible Republican contenders for president in 2012, Real Clear Politics reports, but former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will stick to his “selective media strategy” and won’t participate in an interview for the “12 in '12” series. The series begins Thursday night with an exclusive interview with Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and will air on consecutive Thursdays. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is in talks to do an interview with host Bret Baier. Other potential GOP candidates reportedly locked in include former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, Indiana Rep. Mike Pence, South Dakota Sen. John Thune, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

"Gov. Romney is a different story," Baier said of the former governor’s unwillingness to participate. "We've talked to them a number of times. They've told me they are hesitant to do anything that has a 2012 connotation to it."

Nevertheless, "I don't think many people in politics would bet against Mitt Romney running," Baier added.

Fox will air a 13th episode in the series that will combine profiles of Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, and others such as Donald Trump, all considered long shots by the network to win the Republican nomination.