Former Vice President Mike Pence dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination on Saturday, ending his campaign for the White House after struggling to raise funds and gain support.
“I have decided to suspend my campaign for president today,” Mr. Pence said at the Jewish Republican Coalition meeting in Las Vegas. “From the beginning we knew this would be a tough battle, but I have no regrets.” he said.
He becomes the first heavyweight candidate to withdraw from the race dominated by former President Donald Trump.
The withdrawal is a major loss for a politician who served former President Trump faithfully throughout his tenure, only to be targeted by Mr Trump in his final days in office when he claimed Mr Pence had the power to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which was not true.
Although former Vice President Pence averted a constitutional crisis by refusing to obey Mr. Trump, he drew the ire of himself and many of his supporters, culminating in the Jan. 6 riots and attack on the Capitol where he was to certify the outcome of elections.