Graham drops out of presidential race
Democrat says he lacked funds, organization to win
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Graham: "I'm leaving because ... I cannot be elected president."
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Sen. Bob Graham of Florida dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination Monday. (October 7)
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Bob Graham of Florida dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination Monday.
"I'm leaving because I have made the judgment that I cannot be elected president of the United States," Graham said on CNN's "Larry King Live."
Graham said his campaign did not receive enough funds or have a strong enough organization to complete the run.
He said he got off to a late start because of his duties on the Senate Intelligence Committee and its investigation of the attacks of September 11, 2001, his heart surgery in January to replace a deteriorating valve, and the war in Iraq.
"All those things combined to make it difficult for us to have the time and to close the gap in organization and fund raising, which have led to this difficult decision," he said.
Graham said he was not ready to endorse any of the other nine Democratic presidential candidates.
"We have an excellent field of Democratic candidates," he said. "All of them would be superior to the current incumbent in the White House, and I am anxious to give my full support to whichever candidate the Democrats of the United States select to be our nominee."
As to whether he would consider a nomination to be vice president, Graham said it was not a decision for anyone other than the nominee to make.
"I am prepared to do whatever I can to contribute to a Democratic victory next November and a moving of this nation onto a new and better track."
Graham's Senate term ends in January 2005, and he said he has not decided whether to seek re-election.
He was elected to the Senate in 1986 and again in 1992 and 1998. He served two four-year terms as Florida governor in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and before that several terms in the state House and Senate.
Just last week, Graham deflected rumors that he was about to leave the race. His fund-raising report was expected to show less than $1 million on hand as of September 30.
