Oregon Public Broadcasting

Independent candidate John Frohnmayer dropped out of Oregon's race for the U.S. Senate Tuesday.  Salem correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

Frohnmayer was running as the candidate for the fledgling Independent Party.  The retired lawyer chaired the National Endowment of the Arts under the first President Bush.

Frohnmayer was only able to pull in a fraction of the money raised by the two leading Senate candidates, Democrat Jeff Merkley and Republican incumbent Gordon Smith.

Frohnmayer says a lack of grassroots enthusiasm sank his campaign.

John Frohnmayer: “What I had hoped when I entered this race ten months ago, was that there would be an upwelling of support from independent-minded Oregonians, and that I could help focus their concerns.  I have not detected such a movement.”

Frohnmayer isn’t endorsing either Merkley or Smith.

There still could be a third Senate candidate in the race, however.  The Constitution Party has nominated Damascus computer consultant Dave Brownlow to be on the ballot this fall.