State governors running for the Democratic presidential nomination in the U.S. have been dropping out of the race one by one, seeing little chance of besting veteran Washington-based lawmakers.
Montana’s Steve Bullock remains the only governor still running, although his chances are getting dimmer by the day, and perhaps his patience.
According to local media reports, it is just a matter of time before he too thanks his supporters and heads back home.
Hickenlooper is now seeking a Senate seat from his home state in the U.S. West.
Despite governors already having wielded executive power, selling that experience as an asset for an Oval Office bid has proven a challenge.
The problem may lie with how media coverage works.
“The governors just haven’t gotten as much attention because in this environment, the media flows from the national level to the local level, so people already in Washington have a built-in advantage,” David Turner, the communications director for the Democratic Governors Association, told the Hill magazine.
Analysts argue that the crowded field of contenders who joined this year’s presidential race for publicity, money, or airtime is another factor behind the failure of governors in selling their campaign to the nation.
