COLUMBIA, S.C., Feb. 20, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush announced Saturday evening that he will suspend his campaign for the Republican party nomination for presidency.
“The people of Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken, and I really respect their decision, so tonight I am suspending my campaign,” Bush said in a speech that drew boos and sounds of disappointment from his supporters.
Bush hovered around 8 percent of the vote as returns came in Saturday night in the South Carolina primary.
Preliminary results from the South Carolina primary showed Donald Trump as the clear winner, with Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Marco Rubio in a tight race for second place. Ohio governor John Kasich and Dr. Ben Carson came in behind Bush’s distant fourth place.
Here is more of what Bush said in his speech:
“When I began this journey in Miami, I committed that I would campaign as I would serve: going everywhere, speaking to everyone, keeping my word, facing the issues without flinching, and staying true to what I believe. For the better part of a year I have endeavored to do just exactly that.
“I have put forth a vision for America that includes everyone, because the country deserves a president that is for everyone. The presidency is bigger than just one person. It is certainly bigger than any one candidate. We are different in our country because our head of state is not above us, but because the head of state, the people who aspire to presidency, the head of state, are part of the people.
“In a government of the people, by the people and for the people, we elect a president like us, imperfect under God’s watchful eye. I’ve had a front row seat to this office for most of my adult life. I’ve seen fallible men rise up to the challenges of our time, with humility and clarity of purpose, to make our nation safer, stronger and freer. I truly believe the American people must entrust this office to someone who understand that whoever holds it is a servant, not the master, someone who will commit to that service with honor and decency.
“Our next president will lead and extraordinary country whose people have always made the improbable possible. In big ways and small, everyday Americans test the boundaries of freedoms and achieve more than they what they could ever dreamed.
“But in the last seven years, America’s bright light has become little more than a flicker. We have retreated from the world stage. The American values that have brought peace and opportunity are fading. That is not the America we know and love. American is a country that thinks big, acts boldly and leads without apology. It will be up to the next president to restore that kind of leadership.
“I’m proud of the campaign we’ve run to unify our country, and to advocate conservative solutions, that would give more Americans the opportunity to rise up and reach their God-given potential. But the people of Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken, and I really respect their decision, so tonight I am suspending my campaign.”
