Tom Steyer drops out of Democratic Presidential primary

Businessman Tom Steyer, like former Vice President Joe Biden, threw his efforts into South Carolina in his bid for the presidency. But failing to get a single delegate in the state, Steyer abandoned his bid Saturday night, vowing to continue the fight to get President Donald Trump out of office.

“Honestly, I can’t see a path where I can win the presidency,” Steyer told supporters. “This has been a great experience. I have zero regrets” in mounting his long-shot quest for the nomination, he added.

Steyer made more visits than any other active candidate to South Carolina, making inroads among African American voters and polling at or near second place in a couple of polls.

But with Biden earning an overwhelming 60% of the black vote, according to exit polls, Steyer fell to third place – and without meeting the 15% threshold required to win any delegates.

Steyer did not endorse any of his primary opponents in his speech, and it’s unclear where supporters of the unconventional candidate will go.

Another candidate who has departed the race, businessman Andrew Yang, praised his one-time opponent. “Tom Steyer is a great American and patriot who has spent years fighting for racial justice and addressing climate change,” Yang tweeted. “He is going to keep fighting.”

Steyer – who said in an interview with U.S. News & World Report Thursday that his path forward would depend on how he did in South Carolina – saw the writing on the delegate blackboard as the results from the South Carolina primary came in.

“When the Lord closes a door, he opens a window. I will find that window and crawl through it with you, I promise you that,” Steyer said in withdrawing from the race.