The Republican presidential primary field is smaller by one.
On Monday, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) announced he is suspending his presidential campaign.
Burgum's announcement comes after the unexpected White House contender launched his uphill bid for the presidency in June but failed to make much traction in the polls. (RELATED: North Dakota Governor Enters Republican Presidential Primary Field)
Burgum was able to qualify for the first two of the Republican National Committee's (RNC) primary debates but failed to meet the requirements for last month's debate.
Burgum slammed the RNC's “clubhouse” requirements for the debates for “nationalizing the primary process” and taking power away from voters in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states to vote. He said the RNC's requirements are not related to performing the job of president.
“The RNC's mission is to win elections. It is not their mission to reduce competition and restrict fresh ideas by ‘narrowing the field' months before the Iowa caucuses or the first in the nation New Hampshire primary,” he said. “These arbitrary criteria ensure advantages for candidates from major media markets on the coasts versus America's Heartland.”
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