FYI - I changed the air filter (really didn't need it) and cleaned out the carb fuel bowl and it solved my problem. I was going to change out the spark plug but it's a smaller than normal plug and my bit was too big. That probably explains why there were so many repackaged returns on the rack at the store where I shopped. Mine will be going back too and I'll worry about that when I need to.
Have you gotten this working? I'm having the same problem, same mower. I'm thinking it's a dirty fuel bowl as I had the same problem with a different mower, but I haven't gotten around to taking it off and cleaning it out yet. I'm planning to do that tonight, but was trolling around looking for other possible solutions before I tried that.