Alexander Quits 2000 Race

Former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander ended his presidential campaign Monday after finishing poorly in Saturday's Iowa straw poll, reports CBS News Correspondent Eric Engberg.

"My heart tells me to keep going and so do a lot of telephone calls this morning, but there's really no realistic way to do that," said Alexander, flanked by his wife and son at the state Capitol.

Having campaigned almost non-stop for six years and spent $24 million, Alexander had waged an all-out battle for the weekend straw vote, but placed a meager sixth. He appeared resigned but lighthearted as he faced a crowd of news cameras this afternoon.

"I may learn a lesson from this. I seem to be attracting more attention getting out than I did getting in," he said, joking that his immediate plans included perfect attendance at University of Tennessee football games.

Alexander did not endorse any of his remaining rivals, but said he hoped they would adopt his signature proposals on education and expanded tax deductions for families.

"I hope that the successful Republican nominee for president of the United States -- whoever he or she may be -- does a remarkably good job of bringing out the best in our country," he said.

Alexander, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 1996, had focused all his energies on the initial caucus state. He received 1,428 out of 25,549 votes cast in the straw poll.

That contest was won by Texas Gov. George W. Bush, whose front-running campaign has dried up Alexander's fund-raising sources and competed for the same base of moderate Republican voters.

Bush stands to benefit from today's announcement, because many Alexander supporters could be expected to shift to Bush. Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former American Red Cross president Elizabeth Dole, who finished a strong third in Saturday's poll, also may pick up some Alexander backers.

There were troubling signs for former Vice President Dan Quayle, who was surprised Monday with the desertion of campaign leaders in South Carolina, a critical GOP primary state.

"The rats may be jumping off the ship, but the ship isn't sinking," said Quayle spokesman Jonathan Baron.

[For more information about candidates' reactions to the Iowa straw poll results, click here]