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Walker Drops Out of Presidential Race

Joyce Russell/IPR
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition Fall Fundraiser Saturday.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has all but dropped out of the race for president, suspending his campaign as of today.  He made his brief announcement at a news conference in downtown Madison late this afternoon, and took no questions at the conclusion of his statement.  NPR reports that while Walker didn't mention GOP front runner Donald Trump by name, he did say that optimism in the GOP this year had "drifted into personal attacks."

Walker was an early front runner in Iowa polling, and still led the field of 17 Republican candidates in June, before officially announcing his candidacy.  By this month, though, Walker's support had faded. The latest Quinnipiac University poll reported Walker had fallen to 10th place.  A poll by the Des Moines Register and Bloomberg released this month showed his support had fallen below 10-percent.  

Walker becomes the second Republican candidate to drop out of the race.  Texas Gov. Rick Perry suspended his campaign on Sep. 11.

Michael Leland is IPR's News Director