Another One Bites the Dust

In what is likely to be just the second amongst many casualties in the presidential race (if you'll remember, Democratic hopeful and former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack already dropped out in late February), Republican candidate James Gilmore formally announced that he was dropping his 2008 bid a few days ago, citing low fund-raising numbers. While several of his Republican rivals had already managed to raise tens of millions of dollars in the previous quarter, Gilmore's campaign revealed that it had only raised an anemic $381,000 since January.

Gilmore, a former Virginia governor, did mention the possibility that he could seek public office again in his home state. One option would be pursuing Sen. John Warner's Senate seat if he decides to step down in 2008. Another would be making a bid for the governor's seat he left behind in 2001 since state laws only ban consecutive terms.

Though he had frequently boasted about his résumé as governor during the race, highlighting his aggressive tax-cutting, party-building fervor and one-year tenure as chairman of the Republican National Committee, he had never managed to connect with the Republican base, consistently polling at around 1 or 2% in national polls (most people still don't know him despite his appearance in three debates).

In all likelihood, Gilmore should soon be joined by a few more potentials (including Fred Thompson, who has yet to formally announce his candidacy, there are still 10 Republican candidates) burned by the high costs of running a national campaign. And don't forget the Democratic pack, where laggards like Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich may soon find their odds too daunting to worth pursuing.

AP photo by Elise Amendola