New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced that she is withdrawing from the Democratic primary after she failed to qualify for the upcoming debate.
Gillibrand sunk millions into ads in early primary states to boost her poll numbers but, partly because of a scarcity of polling over the summer but mostly because of her inability to break through a field of more than 20 candidates, she failed to reach 2% in four qualifying polls.
“I think being able to have a voice on a debate stage, when other candidates have that, is really important,” Gillibrand told The New York Times. “And without it, I just didn’t see our path.”
Gillibrand believes calling for Al Franken to resign hurt her:
Gillibrand was the first Senator to call for former Minnesota Sen. Al Franken to resign amid multiple allegations of groping and misconduct.
Gillibrand said she had no regrets, though numerous other lawmakers said they regretted pushing for Franken to step down, but believes it cost her donations.
“We know there were donors who were angry about it and did not support me because of it,” Gillibrand told The Times.
“I wouldn’t change what I did, because I would stand with those eight women again today,” she added.
Gillibrand hopes a woman will win the primary:
Gillibrand said she would endorse another candidate but said she had not decided which one. She stopped short of saying she would endorse a woman but hinted as much.
“I think that women have a unique ability to bring people together and heal this country,” she told the Times. “I think a woman nominee would be inspiring and exciting.”
“I will support whoever the nominee is, and I will do whatever it takes to beat Trump,” she added.
