Phoenix area lawyer Michael Manning has announced that he will not run for Attorney General, (read more at this Phoenix New Times article.)

Manning added a bold statement to his announcement that “I believe it is quite likely that I would win that election.” Well, if you are not willing to run, does it really matter how you would have done? We do not know if he was predicting a victory in the primary or the general election.

Based on his past donations, Manning has been a solid donor to Mitchell and Kirkpatrick, we assume his phantom campaign was going to start in the Democratic primary against Felecia Rotellini.

The Democrat nominee for Attorney General will likely face either current School Superintendent Tom Horne, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, or possibly current Arizona House member Sam Crump.

We would just like to say we enjoyed covering Mr. Manning’s virtual run for AG and we wish him and his family well and look forward to his next campaign that he could win but will not launch.