Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet ends 2020 Democratic primary bid

He added, “I got in this race because I love our country, I love America, I love the idea of democracy, and I want to make sure that our generation passes on this democracy intact at least, if not in better shape, to the next generation of Americans.”

The Colorado senator’s presidential run was always a long shot. In August, he vowed to be invisible in the White House after the tumult of President Trump’s administration, in line with his reputation for being mild-mannered, other than a viral moment on the Senate floor when he ripped Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for his “crocodile tears” amid heightened tensions over a government shutdown.

“If you elect me president, I promise you won’t have to think about me for two weeks at a time,” he said at the time.

Despite high popularity in his home state, Bennet never threatened to break into the top tier of Democratic candidates seeking the presidency. Most polls throughout the primary race never had him registering more than 1% support.

During the early months of Bennet’s bid, he was overshadowed by his fellow Coloradan, former Gov. John Hickenlooper, who exited the primary on Aug. 15 amid low polling.

Bennet’s run was defined by his plea for centrism to his more liberal rivals. He repeatedly attacked proposals such as “Medicare for all” and decriminalizing illegal border crossings as unrealistic and damaging for his party’s prospects of unseating Trump.

During his final weekend in New Hampshire, the senator, however, seemed to be enjoying himself, pulling crowds of hundreds alongside famed Democratic strategist James Carville, who announced he was endorsing him in January.

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