Former GAO chief opts out of Connecticut Senate bid

Former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker will not be running for the Senate in Connecticut, he announced in a statement Thursday morning.

"After Senator Joe Lieberman (I/D-CT) announced that he would not seek re-election, many people with different political affiliations, both in Connecticut and across the country, have strongly encouraged me to run for the U.S. Senate," he said in the statement.

"While I believe these people may be correct that the key issues and political climate would support a successful Senate bid in 2012, I also believe that my background, relationships and current positions, including as Founder and CEO of the Comeback America Initiative (CAI) and as a national co-founder of No Labels, give me a unique ability to make a difference as a citizen patriot on critical issues that I care about without serving in the U.S. Senate."

Walker had said on MSNBC back in June that he was considering a run. Some Republicans were trying to recruit him to run, but in his statement on Thursday, Walker said he has decided to remain an independent.

Walker's decision means the GOP primary can be inked in as a two-way matchup between former Rep. Chris Shays, and former WWE CEO Linda McMahon, with only minor competition to speak of otherwise.