Lincoln Chafee withdrew from the 2016 Democratic primary on Friday morning after months of polling below 1 percent among Democratic voters.
The Rhode Island senator and governor announced his withdrawal in a lengthy speech at the 22nd Annual National Issues Conference of the Women’s Leadership Forum, in which he talked about Greek plays, Vietnam and his vision for world peace. As he walked into the room the announcer mispronounced his name and he only received some mild sympathetic applause.
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“As you know I have been campaigning on a platform of Prosperity Through Peace,” he said in his prepared remarks. “But after much thought I have decided to end my campaign for president today,” Chafee told Democrats. “Thank you.”
His withdrawal from the Democratic primary follows Jim Webb’s withdrawal on Tuesday and Vice President Joe Biden’s decision not to enter the primary on Wednesday. Following the withdrawal of Chafee, fringe candidate Lawrence Lessig is now in fourth place in the primary, and could possibly earn a spot on stage in the next Democratic debate.
As a former elected Republican and elected independent politician, Chafee’s views did not line up with the 2016 Democratic electorate. He has consistently failed to register among potential voters and has only attracted ten donors to his low budget campaign.
During the first Democratic debate, Chafee only received nine minutes of speaking time. While on stage, many pundits said that Chafee looked clueless, but mainly just excited to be there.
Although Chafee will no longer be in the race, he said he pledges to commit “all [his] energy towards a big 2016 victory for Democrats across the country.”
He concluded “Thank You! Go Democrats in 2016!”