Former Gov. George Pataki Drops Out Of GOP Presidential Race

BERLIN, N.H. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Former New York state Gov. George Pataki announced Tuesday night that he is dropping his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

After advising voters in certain states with early primaries or caucuses to tune into a television broadcast, Pataki announced on Twitter that he was suspending his campaign.

"Well tonight is the end of my journey for the White House as I suspend my campaign for president," Pataki said. "I'm confident we can elect the right person, someone who will bring us together and who understand that politicians -- including the president -- must be the people's servant, and not their master."

"I know the best of America is still ahead of us," he added.

A centrist Republican who led New York through the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Pataki has failed to gain traction in a crowded field of candidates.

Pataki announced his bid by video in May. But just as he was overshadowed after the 2001 terrorist attacks by Mayor Rudy Giuliani in New York City and President George W. Bush, Pataki's campaign from the beginning was stuck in the shadow of better known rivals.

Out of office since 2006, he was a clear underdog in a bustling pack of favorites and longshots.

Even at the time of his announcement, Pataki's decision to run has some political experts scratching their heads, CBS2's Marcia Kramer reported at the time.

"He's anti-charismatic. When he comes into contact with charisma, he destroys it. More importantly, he's on the wrong side of the culture wall with the GOP base. He's much too liberal. On policy alone he can't win it and he's unknown," Baruch College pundit Doug Muzzio said on May 28.

Pataki has acknowledged being the longshot against better-known — and more bombastic — competitors.

Pataki had hung his hopes on doing well in early-voting New Hampshire but has barely registered in state or national polls.

The former governor also never made it onto a main debate stage and has had trouble raising funds.

Pataki flirted with presidential runs in 2008 and 2012 but stopped short.