DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri acknowledged the death of his U.S. presidential hopes with dignity in Iowa Monday night.
Gephardt came in a humiliating fourth in the crucial Iowa caucuses, with only 11 percent. Since the caucuses attained their modern form in 1972, every successful presidential candidate has come within the first three of his party.
Gephardt did not formally withdraw from the race, but said he would hold a press conference in St. Louis in his native Missouri Wednesday.
"My campaign may be over ... but the fight never ends," he told his Iowa supporters.
Gephardt's smiling, dignified demeanor was in striking contrast to former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's manic performance before his own Iowan supporters.
In his victory speech, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts paid tribute to Gephardt as a great public servant during his 14 terms in the House of Representatives.
