Pataki confirms end of presidential campaign

by Jonathan Easley - 12/29/15 9:55 PM ET

Former New York Gov. George Pataki announced Tuesday night that he is dropping out of the Republican presidential race.

“While tonight is the end of my journey for the White House as I suspend my campaign for president, I’m confident we can elect the right person,” Pataki says in an online video posted late Tuesday.

{mosads}“Someone who brings us together, and who understands that politicians — including the president — must be the people’s servant and not their master. I know the best of America is still ahead.”

With Pataki gone, a Republican presidential field that once boasted 16 candidates has now been reduced to 11. The former New York governor joins Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal on the sidelines.

Pataki leaves the race effectively registering zero percent support in polls nationally and in early-voting states.

At a rally Tuesday night, front-runner Donald Trump sent Pataki off without mentioning him by name.

“Another one dropped out today, but there’s not much to split up because he was at zero,” Trump said. “When they drop out at zero, they just say, let’s go on to the next.”

Pataki had a very small impact on the 2016 race.

He never made it out of the undercard round at the Republican presidential debates, raised very little money and commanded almost no media coverage.

Pataki had a very small campaign operation that was exposed when it came time for candidates to file to make the state primary ballots. Pataki had so far failed to make it on to the ballots in at least a half-dozen states, including Florida, Ohio and Virginia.

Pataki did not say whether he’d throw his support to any of the other candidates still in the race but said there are three things he hopes the GOP nominee can accomplish.

“If we’re truly going to make America great again, we need to elect a president who will do three things,” Pataki said. “Confront and defeat radical Islam. Shrink the size and power of Washington. And unite us again in our belief in this great country.”

Updated at 10:07 p.m.

Tags George Pataki