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Bullock Becomes 3rd Governor to Drop US Presidential Campaign

Associated Press

   HELENA, MONTANA - Montana Gov. Steve Bullock ended his Democratic
   presidential campaign Monday, becoming the third Western governor
   boasting executive experience and a Washington-outsider appeal to flame
   out in the contest.

   The campaigns of Bullock, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and former
   Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper failed to gain momentum in a
   D.C.-centric race in which former Vice President Joe Biden and Sens.
   Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren dominated the polls for most of the
   past few months.

   Bullock, a 53-year-old two-term governor and former attorney general,
   had the textbook resume for primary success in past presidential
   elections. He's a former labor lawyer and a gun owner whose governing
   record included expanding Medicaid in a red state. He touted
   across-the-aisle appeal, arguing he was the best bet to defeat
   President Donald Trump because he was the only Democratic candidate to
   win in a state that Trump won in 2016.

   But instead of following Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and
   George W. Bush on the path from the governor's mansion to the White
   House, Bullock sputtered. The crowded 2020 race has centered on
   national debates around Trump and impeachment, and the Democratic
   National Committee imposed tougher polling and fundraising thresholds
   to make the debate stage. Those thresholds favored those with national
   name recognition and established online networks, making it tough for
   Bullock and other newcomers to the national scene to get a toehold.

   Bullock was also hobbled by his late start, announcing his candidacy in
   May and joining nearly two dozen other Democratic candidates competing
   for attention and campaign donations.

   He struggled to raise money and register in the polls, managing to meet
   qualification thresholds for only one DNC debate, in July.

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