"The vote in New Hampshire last night was not enough for us to create the practical wind at the campaign's back to go on to the next round of voting," Patrick said in a statement obtained by NPR. "So I have decided to suspend the campaign, effective immediately."
Patrick, 63, joined the presidential race in November, a year after flirting with and deciding against a run. As a later entry to the race, Patrick decided to skip the Iowa caucuses in favor of focusing on the races in New Hampshire and South Carolina, CNN reported.
Another New England Democrat, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, won New Hampshire. Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg also emerged as the leading moderate, winning many of the same centrist voters Patrick had sought.
On the campaign trail, Patrick made a case for compassionate capitalism, the idea that businesses and government can work together in service of public good. While some donors and moderate Democrats said both his message and the messenger were sorely needed, in a primary season dominated by progressives’ calls to break up big corporations and expand government aid programs, Patrick’s arguments seemed to fall flat with some voters.
His exit from the presidential race leaves the Democratic field, once touted as the most diverse in history, without any African-American candidates. Only one other candidate of color remains in the race: Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who is Samoan-American.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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