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Alexander quits presidential race
August 16, 1999 NASHVILLE, Tennessee (CNN) -- After faring poorly over the weekend in the Iowa Republican Party straw poll, former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander ended Monday what he called his last campaign, withdrawing from the race for the 2000 GOP presidential nomination. Acknowledging the fact that his sixth-place finish would hurt his ability to raise funds to continue his quest, Alexander said he didn't want to quit but he was realistic.
"I'm just trying to face facts and I think I faced them honestly today," he said. Alexander blamed the emphasis on money for ending his campaign before anyone had cast a vote in a primary or caucus. Saturday's straw poll was a non-binding poll that is a fund-raiser for the Iowa Republican Party. "If there were something we need to change in the process -- and I'm not here to make any excuses about it -- it would be to make it less reliant on money," he said. He said the campaign in Iowa, which holds the nation's first presidential caucus, was becoming more of a media event with less emphasis on traditional retail politics, like meeting with small groups of voters. "It's simply the first media event in a long series and too much of the emphasis in the early years is based upon money and that's not healthy for our country," he said. He again noted the "powerful force" to nominate Texas Gov. George W. Bush, who received the most votes in the straw poll and is leading in nationwide polls for the GOP nomination. Alexander said he didn't know why Bush had attracted so much support but cited his executive experience as governor of a large state and his family name. "Republicans are desperate for a winner and he looks like he might be one," Alexander said. "My only argument in the campaign was a winner is somebody who can beat Al Gore in debate and we better have a rehearsal before we pick our candidate." Alexander had no plans to endorse another candidate so early in the race. "I do not have plans to endorse anybody," he said. "I campaigned on the idea that we ought to have a contest." Bush released a statement after Alexander dropped out, calling Alexander a "good man" and saying he hoped Alexander would continue to be actively involved in promoting his ideas. "I know this was a difficult decision for him because I know how strongly he believes in strengthening American families and revitalizing the spirit of our country," the statement said. "I applaud his commitment to the issue I believe should be America's number one domestic priority, the education of our children." Alexander said he hoped the remaining candidates would pick up two of his campaign proposals: tripling the child tax deduction to $8,000 and extending the deduction to include taking care of an elderly relative, and creating a pilot $1,500 scholarship program for lower and middle income children to give them choices for schools. He said he had no plans for the future at this point. "For Honey (his wife) and for me, this is a different period of our lives, is what I'm searching to say," Alexander said after a slight pause. Alexander also cited the power of television as hurting his candidacy. "What makes it hard for me to continue is waking up every day to a report that George W. Bush is already elected and Lamar Alexander has no chance to win," he said. "Maybe that's true but after it's been repeated every day for a few months, it's more likely to be true and it makes it virtually impossible to raise money and when that happens, you can't continue." Alexander, 59, had hinted over the weekend he would likely leave the race this week after placing sixth in a field of nine candidates, despite campaigning virtually nonstop since dropping out of the 1996 presidential race. Alexander had focused all his energies on Iowa, the site of the first presidential caucus. Several sources close to the Alexander campaign told CNN the candidate was devastated by his finish and realized it would be nearly impossible to raise significant funds for his already struggling campaign. Alexander received 1,428 out of 23,685 votes cast. Bush's campaign has dried up Alexander's fund-raising sources as the candidates were competing for the same base of moderate Republican voters. Bush has raised more than $36 million, far more than any other candidate. Bush is likely to benefit from Alexander's withdrawal as Alexander supporters could be expected to shift to Bush. Former American Red Cross president Elizabeth Dole, who finished a strong third in Saturday's poll, and Arizona Sen. John McCain also may pick up some Alexander supporters. The campaign of former Vice President Dan Quayle also was affected by his poor showing the straw polls. Quayle's presidential campaign plans a major reorganization of staff and resources for the coming months after his eighth-place finish in Iowa and the loss of several South Carolina campaign workers to rival candidate John McCain. Campaign aides said Monday that the campaign will shift virtually all of its paid staff to Iowa and New Hampshire, where the crucial early contests are waged. The campaign's operations in other states -- including South Carolina -- will be handled by volunteers. More details of the reorganization are expected during the course of this week. CNN's John King and Beth Fouhy contributed to this report written by Douglas Wood. |
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MORE STORIES:Monday, August 16, 1999
• Gore and 'Clinton fatigue' • Clinton appeals for more international assistance • Giuliani prefers entering race late • Elated Dole says 'invisible army' put her in top three • Bradley comments on Bush's campaign | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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