Democratic presidential contender John Delaney announced that he was dropping out of the 2020 presidential race ahead of the Iowa caucuses.
Delaney’s campaign said internal data indicated that he would not be considered viable in the Iowa causes, and said that he did not want to make it more difficult for moderate candidates “on the bubble of viability” to win delegates in the caucuses.
Delaney, a former Maryland congressman who cast himself as a moderate candidate, called for an end of “unrealistic and divisive” campaign promises in a series of tweets announcing his decision to drop out of the race.
I leave this race with a profound sense of gratitude to the voters who shared with me their hopes and concerns for our magnificent country, in admiration for the other contenders for the nomination and proud of the work we did to change the debate. 2/19
— John Delaney 🇺🇸 (@JohnDelaney) January 31, 2020
It was a privilege to work with you on this journey, I will be grateful for you until my last days and I look forward to our work ahead. 4/19
— John Delaney 🇺🇸 (@JohnDelaney) January 31, 2020
We need to provide workable solutions to the economic issues facing hardworking Americans, create opportunity for young people in all communities, restore a sense of unity and common purpose to our nation, and re-establish the United States as an engaged global leader. 6/19
— John Delaney 🇺🇸 (@JohnDelaney) January 31, 2020
This race was never about me, but about ideas and doing what’s right for our nation. The unique and data-driven ideas that our campaign generated – on how to create a functional universal health care system, price carbon, advance trade, invest in rural America, cure… 8/19
— John Delaney 🇺🇸 (@JohnDelaney) January 31, 2020
In addition, I encourage the party to sharpen its focus on the growing opportunity inequality that exists in both rural America and struggling urban communities. 10/19
— John Delaney 🇺🇸 (@JohnDelaney) January 31, 2020
Smart public-private partnerships can encourage entrepreneurs to locate in small-town America and struggling inner cities. Never bet against the United States of America. This is a remarkable nation full of wonderful and patriotic people. 12/19
— John Delaney 🇺🇸 (@JohnDelaney) January 31, 2020
Because of them, we have every advantage any nation could possibly want to have in 2020, except for one problem: we are a deeply divided nation. The good news is that we can fix that problem, but we have to fix it together. 14/19
— John Delaney 🇺🇸 (@JohnDelaney) January 31, 2020
Step three is to focus on the future and leave the world better than we found it. The Democratic party must respond to this calling. 16/19
— John Delaney 🇺🇸 (@JohnDelaney) January 31, 2020
And please don’t listen to the cynics, the naysayers and the dividers; while we have significant challenges and too many Americans are struggling, the world gets better every year and the United States of America has driven much of this progress – let’s keep it that way. 18/19
— John Delaney 🇺🇸 (@JohnDelaney) January 31, 2020
Onward and upward and God Bless America. 19/19
— John Delaney 🇺🇸 (@JohnDelaney) January 31, 2020
Delaney was polling at less than 1% nationally and failed to qualify for the last several Democratic debates. A review of the amount of news coverage of the race found Delaney had the least amount of coverage of the candidates still running.