Here is his statement:

This decision does not come easily or without regret; especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country,” he added. “I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election. I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognize that running for public office cannot be done half heartedly. Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector.

TVNewser reports that Trump’s announcement was greeted by “lots of cheers and applause.” And based on Twitter, that was the media’s reaction as well. Comedian and Trump-roaster Seth Meyers tweeted: “Our short national nightmare is over #Trump12.”

Slate political reporter Dave Weigel tweeted: “I’m sure the remaining black viewers of ‘The Apprentice’ are happy. Yes, both of them.” And ABC World News editor Rick Klein has learned his lesson: “so now, when Trump says he’s definitely serious about running for president in 2024, I will have been chastened and won’t buy it.”

But what will we do now? Nation correspondent Ari Melber tweeted: “Narrative: With Trump gone, now the GOP can turn to Idea Candidates instead of race-baiters. Like Newt “Food Stamp” Gingrich.”

Still, some people expressed regret. Piers Morgan tweeted: “Am I the only one crushingly dejected that @realDonaldTrump isn’t running for President? #wouldhavebeensomuchfun”

Oh well. We’ve had a good run of things, haven’t we? We guess it’s time to say goodbye.

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ABC News senior political reporter Rick Klein joined the mediabistro.com Morning Media Menu today, talking about the week’s big political headlines with GalleyCat’s Jason Boog and AgencySpy’s Matt Van Hoven.

Today’s political topics included Al Franken‘s new Senate seat and the new Vanity Fair profile of former VP candidate Sarah Palin.

You can listen to all the past podcasts at BlogTalkRadio.com/mediabistro and call in at 646-929-0321.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

“One democrat said to me, ‘It’s almost like Obama chose himself for the Supreme Court,’” Klein said, pointing out that both Obama and Sotomayor are “moderate, middle of the road, non-controversial, not an ideologue in either direction” and have “a personal story that directs the narrative and the discussion about who they are.”

Klein, author of “The Note” blog and host of the ABC News Now show “Top Line,” also talked about the New York Times‘ new social media editor Jennifer Preston (who we spoke to yesterday) and the success of a personalized magazine.

You can listen to all the past podcasts at BlogTalkRadio.com/mediabistro and call in at 646-929-0321.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

ABC News‘ decision a few weeks back to name their new daily Web series ‘The Fix’ struck more than a few people as strange. Those of you who follow politics will already know that Chris Cillizza has been writing a well-read blog for the Washington Post titled ‘The Fix‘ since 2005 and more recently his very active Twitter feeds took up the name. Was ABC unaware? Unclear (though it is a little like WaPo launching a Web series called ‘The Note’).

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Everything’s better when Tammy Haddad is involved, but the BBC’s Rome Hartman very much held his own in today’s opening panel about the “New Tools of the Trade’ — namely Twitter. Hartman is not a fan of Twitter. Haddad is not a fan of Twitter not making money. Also weighing in were online luminaries Rick Klein, Rachel Sterne, Jim Long, and Michael Meyers. At the end of the session, Haddad presented Hartman with a parting gift (above).

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Now CNNMoney “the most-popular source of business-news video on the Web” has revealed they are partnering with Time Inc.’s business magazines and sister cable network CNN and have unveiled eight new online business shows. According to the WSJ CNNMoney devotes about a quarter of its editorial budget to Web video, which “has helped it grab the online-video mantle from Yahoo Inc., AOL and other Internet hubs that long dominated business news online.” Take a look at the line-up after the jump. Meanwhile, our own Chris Ariens paid a visit to the fifth floor newsroom at Time Warner Center where “writers, editors and producers all collaborate providing content across multiple platforms” including the newly launched programs. You can watch his video tour here.

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“I think there’s a realization at ABC that it’s not enough to talk to people as we have in the past…you have to go to people the way they want to receive information…whatever the next big thing is.”

“This is a time of grand experimentation in journalism — this is something I tell up-and-coming journalists all the time — this is an exciting time to be a journalist despite all the financial problems.”

Klein also talks about the World News Webcast, which he says is skewed to a younger audience, “Charlie Gibson is one of the hippest men I know!” As well as his recent embrace of Twitter. You can listen to the past podcasts at BlogTalkRadio.com/mediabistro and call in at 646-929-0321.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.