We've noted before that Fox News has a number of potential 2012 GOP candidates on payroll including former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, former half-term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, former Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Senator Rick Santorum.

Having all these formers on staff certainly puts the right-wing cable news network in the drivers seat as the 2012 race for the Republican nomination begins to take shape in the coming year.

We noted in February that Palin was asked on Fox News Sunday to analyze the potential field and whether she'd be among those running. Well, Huckabee -- host of his own weekend Fox News program -- played the same role today on Fox News Sunday, offering his thoughts of the potential 2012 line-up and if he'd be a candidate.

Huffington Post's Sam Stein reports:

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee weighed in on the gamut of likely 2012 Republican presidential candidates during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday.” And while the Arkansas Republican offered diplomatic praise for his colleagues -- while candidly admitting that he too was thinking of mounting a bid -- his remarks stood out for their coldness to one: Mitt Romney.

[...]

As for his own candidacy:

“I haven't closed the door. I think that would be foolish on my part, especially when poll after poll shows there is a strong sentiment out there. I end up leading a lot of the polls. I'm the Republican that clearly at this point does better against Obama than any other Republican. I'm not totally unaware of that. But that is a long way from making a decision to run for president.”