Harrell out of 2010 governor's contest

S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell said Tuesday he won't run for governor in two years, after all.

The Charleston Republican had been among a handful of prominent politicians considered possible candidates in the budding contest to succeed Gov. Mark Sanford.

But Harrell said Tuesday he thinks he can do more good continuing to serve as Speaker.

"Serving in public office for me has always been about the things I've wanted to see done to improve the state and not about the office I was in," he said.

Harrell said his goals include making the state more attractive to new businesses and industry, improving its research industries so they can strengthen the state's economy and doing more to encourage existing businesses to expand here instead of somewhere else. "I certainly could do those things as governor of the state, but I think I also could do them as speaker of the House," he said.