Lincoln Chafee announced Friday that he is withdrawing from the 2016 presidential race. The former governor of Rhode Island was having trouble garnering enough support for a serious presidential run. In a survey after last week’s Democratic debate, 0 percent of college women chose Chafee as the debate’s winner.
“As you know I have been campaigning on a platform of prosperity through peace,” Chafee said during a speech at the Democratic National Committee’s Women’s Leadership Forum. “But after much thought I have decided to end my campaign for president today.”
Chafee announced his withdrawal just a few days after Jim Webb dropped out of the Democratic primary—though Webb has left the possibility open that he may run as an Independent.
For now, the Democratic party must choose between Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, former Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland and Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig.
In the rest of his speech at the Women’s Leadership Forum, Chafee encouraged women to use their talents to bring an end to war.
“Studies show that women lead differently than men, and that women are more likely to be collaborative and team-oriented,” he said. “It is undeniable the benefits women provide to the pursuit of peace.”