Wellstone Drops White House Bid

Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, who last month said he was ready to run for president in 2000, announced Saturday that he will not enter the race.

Wellstone said he did not think he could take the rigors of a presidential campaign and still represent the people of Minnesota effectively. He has been experiencing back problems.

Wellstone, who is in his second Senate term and has pledged not to seek a third, had been meeting with key Democratic Party officials around the country and campaigning frequently in Iowa and New Hampshire.

A former Carleton College political science professor, Wellstone was first elected to the Senate in 1990.

©1999 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed