Pataki Ends Bid for GOP Presidential Nod

George Pataki is suspending his presidential campaign, he announced in a video message Tuesday evening. George said he believes that as a former governor he would be better equipped to take office, as it is an executive position and that is where he has more experience.

George Pataki is telling supporters that he plans to drop his bid for the Republican nomination, NBC News reported.

In the latest fundraising quarter, Pataki only raised about $153,000, including a significant loan from the candidate himself.

He was given airtime during the show on network affiliates in Iowa, New Hampshire and SC when he sought equal time under federal election law after Republican front-runner Donald Trump hosted NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”.

But Pataki appeared to be an awkward match for the fired-up Republican base of 2016. He touted his national security credentials as governor of NY during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and emphasized he was able to win in the heavily Democratic state three times.

Two Pataki supporters said they talked with the former three-term governor and said they weren’t surprised but disappointed to hear the news.

“Donald Trump is the Know-Nothing candidate of the 21st century and can not be our nominee”, he said. “It’s…not appropriate to think that human activity – putting Carbon dioxide into the atmosphere – doesn’t make the earth warmer, all things being equal”, Pataki said during one undercard debate. He tweeted that the NY businessman was “serially bankrupt”, and said he would never vote for Trump. Headshot obtained from Pataki presidential campaign. New Hampshire was the birthplace of the Republican Party – Abraham Lincoln’s party – a party that saved the union and brought the promise of freedom to all Americans. Marco Rubio tied for third at 10%. It was announced earlier this month that Florida had decided not to even put Pataki on the state’s March 15 primary ballot.