In a surprise announcement, controversial CNN host Lou Dobbs said shortly after his show began Wednesday night, "This will be my last broadcast." There was no immediate explanation from Dobbs himself or from CNN about why he was leaving so abruptly in the middle of a week with more than a year remaining on his contract. Speculation immediately arose that Dobbs would be heading for Fox News, which might welcome his conservative viewpoints on such matters as immigration reform and corporate bailouts. But a spokesperson for Fox immediately discounted such speculation, maintaining that there had been no discussions between Dobbs and any Fox executives about Dobbs jumping ship. Dobbs himself said merely, "I will let you know when I set my course." Some TV columnists theorized that his closing remarks Wednesday hinted that he would try his hand at politics. "As for the important work of restoring inspiration to our great free society and our market economy, I will strive as well to be a leader in that national conversation," he said. In a statement, CNN President Jon Klein said that he respected Dobbs's decision. "With characteristic forthrightness, Lou has now decided to carry the banner of advocacy journalism elsewhere," he remarked. The cable news network quickly replaced Dobbs with Sunday-morning host John King. "The program will reflect what CNN is all about: the widest range of opinions from across the political spectrum," Klein said in a statement.