Bolton to announce 2016 decision Thursday

John Bolton, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, will announce Thursday whether he will join a crowded GOP White House field for 2016.

{mosads}Bolton, who handled foreign policy in the Bush administration and has been mulling a presidential bid for some time, has been a vocal critic of the Obama administration, primarily on international issues. 

On recent trips to the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, and before large conservative audiences, he has argued for tougher U.S. positions on Iran and Islamic militants in the Middle East.

Bolton has argued that national security will be integral to the 2016 race, given renewed interest in foreign policy issues in recent months.

Still, Bolton is considered a long shot at securing the nomination in a deep and expanding GOP field of contenders, with other hawkish candidates, such as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), already in the race. 

In an email to media outlets, spokesman Garrett Marquis said Bolton would announce his decision Thursday.