TSR Politics: We started off the presidential race with 12 candidates, and it looks like that number could be dropping as the days go by. The latest candidate to give up his campaign is former Texas Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke.
Beto announced he is stepping out of the race in a series of tweets. He says he will still be in service to his country, just not as a presidential hopeful.
“Our campaign has always been about seeing clearly, speaking honestly, and acting decisively,” he announced. “In that spirit: I am announcing that my service to the country will not be as a candidate or as the nominee.”
Despite no longer being in the race, Beto says he will show uncanny support for whomever will be the Democratic nominee in the race.
“We will work to ensure hat the Democratic nominee is successful in defeating Donald Trump in 2020,” he continued. “I can tell you firsthand from having the chance to know the candidates, we will be well served by any one of them, and I’m going to be proud to support whoever that nominee is.”
Beto’s announcement, although sad, was not very shocking according to his campaign analytics. His campaign’s fundraising numbers always fell well below the front-runners in the primary. Where Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were raking in over $20 million, Beto’s numbers reflected $4.5 million in the most recent quarter.
“Though it is difficult to accept, it is clear to me now that this campaign does not have the means to move forward successfully,” Beto O’ Rourke wrote.
O’Rourke’s decision to leave the race is certainly a sigh of relief for Donald Trump, who used his Twitter account to taunt Beto shortly after his announcement.
“Oh no, Beto just dropped out of race for President despite him saying he was ‘born for this.’ I don’t think so!.” Donnie tweeted. He referenced a quote from a profile in Vanity Fair, in which O’Rourke said he was “just born toe in” the race for the White House.