This article is produced by Elon University students traveling throughout Iowa to cover the 2020 caucuses.
Cory Booker has suspended his campaign for president. The New Jersey senator was struggling to fundraise and gain traction in both state and national polls. Booker’s decision comes after he failed to qualify for the CNN/Des Moines Register debate on Tuesday.
“It was a difficult decision to make, but I got in this race to win, and I’ve always said I wouldn’t continue if there was no longer a path to victory,” Booker said in a statement sent to supporters.
Booker cited fundraising challenges since he will have to spend more time in Washington D.C. as the impeachment trial ramps up.
Katie Zimmerman is an Elon student who was volunteering with the Booker campaign when he suspended his campaign.
“I was very shocked to hear the news, I actually found out from another student on the trip texting me I’m sorry, and I was like why? So, no I didn’t see any signs, Zimmerman said.”
While Booker did not announce an endorsement of a Democratic candidate, he said he would support the nominee.
“I will be doing everything in my power to elect the eventual Democratic nominee for president, whomever that may be, and to elect great Democrats to the Senate and up and down the ballot,” Booker said.
President Donald Trump responded to the news on Twitter.
"Really Big Breaking News (Kidding): Booker, who was in zero polling territory, just dropped out of the Democrat Presidential Primary Race," Trump tweeted. "Now I can rest easy tonight. I was sooo concerned that I would someday have to go head to head with him!"