Bradley Heads For Bench
Calling his failed presidential bid "a joyous journey", Bill Bradley announced his departure from the Democratic race for the White House and offered his support for Vice President Al Gore.
"We are both here today to call it an end," said Bradley, appearing with his wife Ernestine at a news conference at his campaign headquarters in West Orange, N.J. "I've decided to withdraw from the Democratic race for the presidency."
While he stopped short of endorsing the vice president, Bradley did say, "I am giving him my support for the nomination and I will work for him." He called on Democrats to come together, saying, "Now it is time for unity."
However, the former New Jersey senator said he would not release the 412 delegates he did win in the primary races, to give them a voice at the Democratic National Convention. Gore has 1,424 delegates.
Gore won all 18 Democratic primaries and caucuses held so far. His sweep of this week's Super Tuesday contests dealt Bradley's campaign a final blow.
"We have been defeated, but the cause for which I ran has not been defeated," Bradley said. He vowed to continue fighting for a new brand of politics in America "that reflects the best that is in us as Americans and not the worst." He said he would keep working on issues like providing wider access to health care, getting guns off the streets, improving education and overhauling campaign finance rules.
Bradley said he would not be a candidate for vice president, but refused to comment on whether he would seek political office in the future.
His comments retained some of the bitterness that had plagued his campaign fight with Gore. He said Gore's efforts against him had included "distortions and negativity," adding, "I hope that he'll run a better campaign in the general election."
Bradley's announcement came as Republican Sen. John McCain suspended his campaign against Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Both Gore and Bush emerged from the Super Tuesday primaries with their nominations assured.
"It certainly shows that when you do battle with entrenched power that it's very difficult and, indeed, I think that's what the story of the campaign was," he said.
Bradley's decision marks the end of a candidacy that soared briefly but floundered when the first votes were cast in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. It also eliminates the last shred of doubt that Gore will be the Democratic presidential nominee, and allows him to turn his attention to November with a party united behind his candidacy.
The most hopeful moments from Bradley's campaign are probably best placed in the days leading up to the Feb. 1 New Hampshire primary. Though he had lost badly to Gore in the Iowa caucuses, despite campaigning hard there, New Hampshire voters seemed enamored with the former basketball star's calls for a new political discourse. In the end, however, Gore edged ut Bradley in New Hampshire and set himself up for primary sweeps from there on out.