Sam Brownback To End White House Run

CBS News Confirms The Republican Senator Will Make Announcement On Friday In Kansas

(CBS/AP)  CBS News has confirmed Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, the Kansas conservative who struggled to raise money and gain recognition in the 2008 presidential campaign, will drop out on Friday.

Melissa Brunner, of WIBW CBS Topeka, spoke with Christian Morgan, chair of the Kansas Republican Party. They are assisting Brownback in holding a press conference tentatively scheduled for late afternoon tomorrow.

Money was a main reason for his decision, said one person close to Brownback who requested anonymity because the candidate had not yet announced his plans. Brownback is expected to announce his withdrawal in Topeka, Kan.

"Brownback has been unable to get traction in key states like Iowa where he has spent most of his time and effort," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "If Brownback does leave the race, it could provide some marginal help for a candidate such as Mike Huckabee who may gain support from activists dissatisfied with the front-runners in the race but is unlikely to have much of an impact overall."

It's widely anticipated Brownback will run for Kansas governor in 2010, when his term - his second - expires. He had promised in his first Senate campaign to serve no more than two terms.

"He also mentioned he is really looking forward to spending more time in Kansas," the person said.

As recently as last week, Brownback indicated he would keep campaigning through Iowa's first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses in January, saying he would exit the race if he finished worse than fourth there.

But his fundraising has sagged. Reports released Monday showed that of the nine Republican candidates, Brownback was seventh in fundraising from July through September and had a mere $94,000 cash on hand, less than any of his rivals. Brownback raised nearly $4 million overall and was eligible for $2 million in federal matching funds.

He spent a good chunk of his money on the Iowa straw poll, an early test of strength whose significance diminished after Arizona Sen. John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani decided not to compete. He finished third in the August contest behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
The straw poll gave a boost to Huckabee, said Chuck Hurley, an influential Iowa conservative who is friend and adviser to Brownback.

"Brownback's campaign didn't catch fire," Hurley said. "It's just the field is still so full, and the pool of voters he was most fishing from was almost perfectly split between him and Mike Huckabee."

Hurley said Brownback called him Thursday morning to say he was dropping out.

Nationally, Brownback had the support of 1 percent of Republicans in this month's Associated Press-Ipsos poll, after peaking at 3 percent in June.

Besides money, Brownback was hurt because he supports a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, an issue that angers conservatives who influence voting in Iowa and other states that are struggling to provide education, medical care and other services to an influx of immigrants in recent years.

People close to Brownback said it was unlikely he would endorse another candidate on Friday.

It's uncertain how much weight a Brownback endorsement would carry. While the anti-abortion senator is a favorite of religious conservatives, he failed to become their consensus candidate and ranks low in national polls and state surveys.

Still, a nod from Brownback could bolster the conservative credentials of a candidate such as McCain or Huckabee, the rivals who appear most likely to receive his support.

Brownback and McCain are close Senate comrades and have refrained from criticizing one another, instead assailing Romney.

While McCain has a voting record similar to Brownback's on cultural issues, McCain prompts skepticism on the right flank of the party because he isn't a high-profile crusader against abortion rights and gay marriage. Brownback's backing could signal to Christian conservatives that they can trust McCain.

Campaigning in Spartanburg, S.C., on Thursday, McCain said of Brownback, "I'll miss him in this debate. He's a voice for family. He's a voice for the pro-life movement and community in America."

Huckabee, a Southern Baptist preacher, is another favorite of religious conservatives. But like Brownback, he has struggled to rally that voting bloc around his candidacy. He, too, could benefit from Brownback's backing.

Huckabee, campaigning in Rindge, N.H., declined to comment on Brownback's withdrawal because he hadn't heard it officially.

It's harder to imagine any other Republican in the field getting a Brownback nod, although former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson is a possibility. The Kansas senator has bitterly criticized Romney, and Giuliani is disliked by many religious conservatives because of his abortion rights and gay rights positions.

[hwy71so]

"There is an updated story right from ex-Mexican President Fox...

Posted by cfin5 at 01:39 PM : Oct 18, 2007"

You should stop right there. Fox? Who is Fox to comment on our government? He can''t even handle his own country.

[glossypan]

If Ron Paul were to ever get double digit support in any vote outside his home district, he would get plenty of media coverage.

By support, I do not mean people who are willing to toilet paper the internet with his name, I mean people that will use their ONE vote for him.

[kansas1946]

The corporate media will not give Ron Paul any Exposure. Because, NBC is owned by GE. GE is one of the world''''''''s largest war-makers. They make things that go boom.
********************************************

Lord, he has been at every debate and everyone knows who he is. I have not talked to one person that even is remotely interested in politics that does not know who Ron Paul is. He ran as a Libertarian, although he is not a Libertarian, so now he wants to run as a Republican. If he wanted to be a Republican, why was he running as a Libertarian????
I think Republicans would like someone that has least been a Republican for a while.

[kansas1946]

It''s widely anticipated Brownback will run for Kansas governor in 2010, when his term - his second - expires. He had promised in his first Senate campaign to serve no more than two terms.
**************************************
Oh, please keep this guy out of our governor''s mansion. We have managed, although I don''t know how, to keep a moderate in our governorship, for a long time here in Kansas. We have had moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats, but what we haven''t has is some nutty idealogue like Sam.

[matisyahu3]

Glad to hear, every candidate that doesn''t acknowledge evolution should drop out

[jsilver2th]

Brownback out...
Colbert in...
Works for me

[suhaalnafa]

Hillary will win, now be calmer!

[ioweign]

Hmmm...Links to Oral U. ??

[bxazy8]

***** Stop The War & Corporate Corruption *****

Why Don''''t You Know Ron Paul??????

The corporate media will not give Ron Paul any Exposure. Because, NBC is owned by GE. GE is one of the world''''s largest war-makers. They make things that go boom. They make $Billions on war. A Ron Paul administration would be bad for business. CNN is owned by AOL. Majority share holder is Saudi Royal Talal who is also partners with GHWBush in The Carlyle Group. Another major warmaker. And on and on. You get the picture. This is why they are doing a Media Blackout on him. Because they don''''t WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH!!!

Who is Ron Paul?
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/about

Ron Paul Has WON 10 Straw-Polls!

Who Owns The Media: http://www.mediaowners.com

RESTORE YOUR LIBERTY & FREEDOM
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RON PAUL 2008!

Ron Paul Will:

** Stop Iraq War Immediately
** Eliminate IRS
** Eliminate Federal Reserve
** Eliminate Government Wasteful Spending
** Restore America''''s Work Force & Values
** Restore America''''s Freedom!

GET UP AND GET ACTIVE TODAY!!!
Ron Paul Is America''''s Last Hope!

Join The ReVoLuTiOn In Your City Stand Up America:
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/cities/

We have Domestic Terrorists It Is Called The Bush Administration And All Of His "Secretive Signed Statements" Either Stand Up Now or Go To Sams Club And Keep Buying Cases of Vasiline So When You Put Hillary In Office! WAKE UP AMERICA!

[cfin5]

Democrats and Republicans! Please put your cup of party punch down for a second and go to "constitutionparty.com". There is an updated story right from ex-Mexican President Fox regarding President Bush''s role in the North American Union treason. He''s the "instigator"......Go figure.

[cfin5]

And I second dutchfarmers suggestion. Ron Paul is the man to pull our country back together. The top tier candidates on both sides have the whole country bickering amongst ourselves and THEIR VOTING RECORD IS THE REASON!.....Ron Paul, the only Constitution Protector we can trust in ''08! GO USA!!!

[dutchfarmer]

Sam, one good move deserves another: endorse Ron Paul for the Republican nominee for President.

[drivelphobe]

Any Republican candidate with a chance to win, must be for deportation of illegals, fines and imprisonment for employers of illegals, actively ready to build the wall, and ready to close the Mexican border. This is an English speaking country and no government documents should be in anything but English.

The first candidate to seriously state this agenda, can walk away with the presidency. They just don''t get it. Even a Democrat would win with this one.

[mike71067]

Good thing he dropped out. Weed out the weaklings. Whoever wins the GOP nomination will need to be tough enough to slam Hitlery Clinton nto the ground. She''s tough, almost man-like. Rudy can do it. Actually, he''s probably the only one who can.

[moxford0]

Just who is Sam *******?

[bsrbennett]

fedupwithit1 said: Im from Kansas and all I can say is GOOD!!! Although we will still be stuck with him as congressman until we smarten up...

You''re from Kansas and you don''t realize he''s a Senator?

[antoniof123]

The GOP is not selling is what they say. What are they selling you say, nothing just hate the Clinton''s, but nothing other than that. They don''t have an agenda except war and they don''t want to help the children they say it cost too much. Now I know that they will say that many are voting for it but when you know that the leader of your party is going to veto it just keep the votes from a super majority to allow him to veto it. Then try to shift the blame to the Speaker and the Senate majority leader. It will not work this time we see you for what you are in fact your slander lies aren''t working are they.

[hillaryin08]

Vote for me, vote for me, I am your messiah to deliver you from this tyranny. My husband will rule the UN and together we can forge a one-world government.

You will be given you three chances to convert%u2026%u2026..

Allah auk bah

[condumism]

Good riddens NEOCON Brownback. The GOP is now widdled down to jinGOPigs running for whayt is really the American Fascist Party.

Fred Thompson, a career lobbyist, represents everything that is wrong with Washington. Hes the corporations and special interests wet dream. If you like Bush, youll just love Thompson. If you like government by the corporation, of the corporation and for the special interests, hes your man. Hes a multinational corporation posing as a human being.

How convenient that when america notices what a sorry lot the GOP candidates are some other fake actor ronald reagan wanna be comes in with so much media favor to take the reins as the official banana republicon candidate for empire and national decline...

[simonsez40]

.....Another one bites the dust....no tears coming from my eyes.