The talk all week was how Michael Wildes, former mayor of Englewood, distinguished immigration attorney, was grappling internally with the siren songs of Washington, D.C.

After years of fits and starts and quielty making comments like "this mayor has wheels on his heels," Wildes radiated a willingness now to simply make the move on U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-9).

He produced a CD 9 poll, which he argued gave him a shot at wriggling through an opening in the sumo chest thumping exercise that has become Pascrell v. Rothman.

And yet, and yet - he stopped just short of saying he's in to win or even in; and in the end now, Wildes won't run, two sources told PolitickerNJ.com. And he won't back U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell on the other side of the river.

Wildes intends to back old local foe Rothman, according to sources, and he intends to do it tomorrow at a formal event.