Lamar Alexander considering withdrawal from presidential race
From CNN White House correspondent John King
August 15, 1999
Web posted at: 12:37 a.m. EDT (0437 GMT)
AMES, Iowa (CNN) -- CNN has learned that former Tennessee Gov. Lamar
Alexander is considering leaving the Republican presidential race, perhaps as early as next week.
Several sources close to the Alexander campaign say the candidate was devastated by his sixth-place finish in the Ames straw poll - and realized it would make it nearly impossible to raise significant funds for his already struggling campaign.
Alexander campaign aides said there would be no official reaction Saturday night. But a senior campaign official told CNN that Alexander "realizes his options are significantly dwindling."
The official said Alexander campaign leaders were likely to say Sunday that the campaign was weighing its options -- and two of these officials said to look for a withdrawal announcement early
in the week ahead.
"He's very disappointed," said one of the officials. "He
worked extremely hard here and deserved better."
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