After failing to rise in the polls, and a weak debate performance, Lincoln Chafee has decided to drop out of the race for president. According to NBC News, at a Democratic women's event in Washington, Chafee announced, "As you know I have been campaigning on a platform of Prosperity Through Peace. But after much thought I have decided to end my campaign for president today."
This news comes directly after Jim Webb's decision to drop out of the race as well, citing conflicting values in the Democratic Party. The news also coincides with Joe Biden's announcement that he will not seek the highest elected office in the country, paving the way for Hillary Clinton to clinch the nomination.
According to the New York Times, Neither Webb nor Chafee managed to gain any traction in the polls after their lackluster debate performances. Further, neither candidate has the campaign finance infrastructure of Hillary Clinton, who has raised (and spent) more money than any other candidate for the Presidency.
Chafee was a strong opponent of the Iraq War, and he touts his record on foreign policy as the reason he chose to run. As a Republican, Chafee voted against the invasion of Iraq, bucking the trend of many of his political peers. He will use his platform as a presidential candidate to make one last speech about the necessity of level-headedness in U.S. foreign policy.
This leaves only three contenders for the Democratic nomination: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O'Malley. While the remaining candidates do not seem to lack the necessary zeal to win over voters, they will likely have trouble competing with the massive campaign machine that Hillary Clinton has assembled.
The focus on the race for the Democratic Party will now be voter outreach in states like Nevada, Florida and Ohio, all of which could decide the general election come November.
