The Story:
Bill de Blasio, the Mayor of New York City, announced Friday morning the suspension of his campaign for the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States. He has been in the race since May 16, but his efforts never really gained traction.
Background:
Despite the size of the City (and the State) of New York, high office and political prominence in the one or the other has not been a successful launchpad for a Presidential run since the days of the Roosevelts, in the first half of the 20th century.
Nelson Rockefeller, the State’s Governor throughout the 1960s, repeatedly sought the Republican nomination for President. He was defeated in that quest by Nixon, then by Goldwater, and then by Nixon again.
The last person to attempt a serious run for the Presidency directly from the office of NYC Mayor was John Lindsay, who briefly sought the Democratic Party nomination in 1972. Lindsay’s campaign, like de Blasio’s, never took off.
The Thing to Know:
De Blasio is now the sixth to drop out of the Democratic primary contest within three months: after Swalwell, Hickenlooper, Inslee, Moulton, and Gillibrand. The field is narrowing to the core candidates.
