Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts governor, will not take a third run for president. He acknowledged his supporters on a Friday morning call saying, “best to give other leaders in the party the opportunity to become the nominee,” according to ktla5.com

Romney stated that he decided not to run as he believes that  he may not be the strongest contender in the election. Romney said on the call that he’ll “do whatever I can” to help elect that person, according to cnn.com

“I feel that it is critical that America elect a conservative leader to become our next president. You know that I have wanted to be that president. But I do not want to make it more difficult for someone else to emerge who may have a better chance of becoming that president,” he said.

Romney said that while he’s “convinced that we could win the nomination … it would have been a difficult test and a hard fight,” according to ocregister.com.

Former Florida Governor and possible Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush used his social media accounts Friday to praise Romney’s decision. “Though I’m sure today’s decision was not easy, I know that Mitt Romney will never stop advocating for renewing America’s promise through upward mobility, encouraging free enterprise and strengthening our national defense,” Bush posted on his Facebook wall Friday after the announcement came. “Mitt is a patriot and I join many in hoping his days of serving our nation and our party is not over, according to cnn.com.