George Pataki quits presidential race

NEW YORK – George Pataki, the three-term governor who led New York through the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, on Tuesday quit the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

“While tonight is the end of my journey for the White House as I suspend my campaign for president, I’m confident we can elect the right person – someone who can bring us together,” the 70-year-old former governor said in his campaign valedictory.

Pataki, who made his announcement days before books closed on the campaign fundraising quarter, never gained traction in the polls.

From the moment Pataki formally announced his candidacy in May, his views on social issues – particularly on abortion access and gay rights – set him apart from his rivals. His wife, Libby Pataki, described him that month as a “voice of moderation,” telling the New York Times, “I think his message is where the Republican Party should be.”