Brownback departs GOP presidential race

TOPEKA, Kan., Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., Friday announced his departure from the race for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination.

"Today I am ending my candidacy," Brownback said during a news conference in Topeka, Kan.

Brownback, who languished in single digits in national polls, opposed abortion and same-sex marriage, and stressed his "principled, conservative, Republican" credentials, USA Today reported.

Besides his poor polling, Brownback also lagged behind front-runners former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani in fundraising. Since the campaign began, Brownback raised just over $4 million, compared with Romney's $62 million and Giuliani's $47 million.

Brownback became the third GOP hopeful to quit before any official ballots are cast. Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson have also ended their candidacies.