Pete ButtigiegĀ announced the end of his campaign on Sunday (March 1), following a dismal performance in South Carolina, where he failed to earn any delegates, taking just 8.2% of the vote. The former South Bend, Indiana mayor said that dropping out ahead of Super Tuesday is the best way to unify the Democrats and defeat PresidentĀ Donald TrumpĀ in November.
"I will do everything in my power to make sure we have a new Democratic president come January,"Ā Buttigieg told his supporters. "There is simply too much at stake to retreat to the sidelines at a time like this."
A Buttigieg official toldĀ NBC NewsĀ that the campaign saw "a very, very narrow path" to victory and realized thatĀ they "weren't where we needed to be" after South Carolina.
When Buttigieg, who was the first openly gay candidate to run for President, announced he was running, he was considered a long-shot. He managed to defy expectations and edged out a controversial victory in the Iowa caucuses.
"We began this unlikely journey with a staff of four," he said. "No big email lists. No personal fortune. Almost nobody knew my name, and almost no one could pronounce it."
Buttigieg wasĀ sitting in third place with 26 delegates, trailingĀ Joe Biden, who has 54 followingĀ a landslide victory in South Carolina, andĀ Bernie Sanders, who leads the crowded field with 58 delegates.
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