O’Malley, Huckabee suspending presidential campaigns

Gov. Martin O’Malley spoke at Wooly’s in Des Moines to announce he will drop the presidential race during the Caucus on Feb. 1.

Alex Hanson

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee suspended their campaigns for president after disappointing performances. 

Hucakbee, who won the 2008 caucus, made the announcement while speaking to supporters after results were announced.

“I am officially suspending my campaign,” Huckabee tweeted. “Thank you for all your loyal support.”

O’Malley made the announcement while addressing his supporters at Wooly’s in Des Moines.

Iowa has been like a second home for me this past year,” O’Malley said in an email to supporters. “From college campuses to family farms, I have had the privilege of getting to know Iowans whose passion for our democracy is unmatched.”

The Democratic race was a virtual tie, with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders both near 50 percent.

“I want to thank everyone who came out to our events, and lent me their ear,” O’Malley said. “Everyone who went out to caucus for me tonight, and lent me their voice. I give you my deepest gratitude.”

O’Malley told the Iowa State Daily earlier Monday that he was focused on Iowa, and was looking forward to New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada — the next states in the presidential primary contest.

At a town hall at Iowa State on Monday, he told supporters to “hold strong” and “fight for viability” at caucus sites. 

O’Malley, who is also the former mayor of Baltimore, struggled to catch on during his campaign, sticking in the single digits throughout the entire race.