Pete Buttigieg ended his presidential campaign on Sunday, in an abrupt and surprising pullout that further narrows the field of Democrats less than a month after he declared victory in the contested Iowa caucuses.
"I will do everything in my power to ensure that we have a new Democratic president come January," Buttigieg told a throng of enthusiastic and emotional supporters in South Bend, Ind. on Sunday night, in a speech marked by an upbeat and forward-looking timbre.
"We sent a message to every kid out there wondering if whatever marks them out as different means they are destined to be less than," he continued amid chants of "USA!" and other cheers. "To see someone who once felt that exact same way can become a leading presidential candidate with his husband at his side."
Buttigieg's husband Chasten introduced the candidate by remarking through tears that "Pete got me to believe in myself again. ... And I told Pete to run because I knew there were other kids that needed to believe in themselves, too."
Buttigieg had been scheduled to headline a rally in Dallas on Sunday night. The charter plane was rerouted en route.
Buttigieg's withdrawal comes just days before 14 states are set to head to the polls on Super Tuesday, where one-third of all delegates for the nomination will be at stake. His exit likely will harm frontrunner Bernie Sanders by providing a coalescing boost to more moderate candidates, as Buttigieg had gone on the offensive against the Vermont senator and sought to appeal to the centrist base of the party. Many early votes have already been cast, however.
A senior campaign aide told Fox News the decision was "absolutely not" because of Buttigieg's failure to reach his Super Tuesday fundraising goal of $13 million. The campaign announced Sunday that it needed another $1.6 million to reach that target.
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Buttigieg exits presidential race ahead of Super Tuesday, cementing collapse after strong Iowa showing | Fox News