Family Fueled Sen. Ensign's Decision Not to Run

Friends and family members helped push Nevada U.S. Sen. John Ensign toward his decision not to seek re-election for a third term, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported Wednesday.

As he was ramping up for a re-election bid last fall, several close friends and family members pulled him aside and asked him to reconsider. Ensign, a Republican, has been plagued by accusations of an extramarital affair and an investigation into his conduct as a result.

"I had some very close friends talk to me who were supporting me, and they were totally on board, but they talked to me on it from a personal level," Ensign told the newspaper soon after announcing his decision. "Some family members certainly weighed in the same regard."

The message was repeated many times.

"Just consider what this is going to look like to your family, and it is going to be tough on you personally," they said, according to Ensign.

Despite skepticism among Nevada Republicans that he’s stepping aside for just family reasons, Ensign insisted that was the case.