Simon Decides to Stay in Race ‘Until Finish Line in Atlanta’

Illinois Sen. Paul Simon said Friday he would remain in the Democratic presidential race until the party convention in July.

“This is a marathon race for the heart and soul of the Democratic Party, and I’m in it until the finish line in Atlanta,” Simon told the Minnehaha County Democratic Forum. The national convention will be held July 18-21 in the Georgia capital.

“The response I have received here in the past few days, plus the outpouring of encouragement from my home state of Illinois and from Democrats throughout the land, has convinced me that a great many Americans want a clear-cut choice next November,” Simon said.

“They want a make-no-apologies Democratic nominee. I intend to offer that choice, waging a fight for the heart and the soul of the Democratic Party.”

After placing third among Democrats in this week’s New Hampshire primary, Simon had said he would drop out of the race if he did not win South Dakota’s primary or Minnesota’s caucuses Tuesday.

The senator said Friday that he initially decided on that path because of financial reality. “I didn’t want to end up with a huge debt,” he said, adding that he did not make the statement as a ploy to get more money for his campaign.

Simon said cash pledges have increased dramatically in the last few days, but he would not say who had contributed. Simon’s staff has said the campaign received at least $300,000 in the past week and $250,000 the week earlier.