It wouldn’t surprise if some declined because they were afraid that eligibility issue would come up. They just don’t want to touch it with a 10’ pole, especially a week before the IA caucuses.
If I were a candidate, I’d simply suggest that, regardless of where Obama was born, the time will come sooner or later that the SCOTUS will have to determine the Framers’ intent of the ‘natural born citizen’ language inserted in the Constitution for the Office of POTUS, and for that Office only.
Yes.. they may be afraid of eligibility, but then again that would make me like them less. We need a strong candidate that is ready to go out and battle the dragons... ALL OF THE DRAGONS.