Attacks Lead Peterson to Forgo Governor’s Bid
Former Vietnam ambassador Douglas “Pete” Peterson dropped out of the Democratic primary race for Florida governor, saying the terrorist attacks had a profound effect on him and he felt he could not participate in a partisan race.
At a news conference, the former three-term congressman said that he believes, in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, that he may have more to offer the country with his international diplomacy background.
Former U.S. Atty. Gen. Janet Reno is the Democrats’ leading contender seeking to challenge Republican Gov. Jeb Bush in 2002.
A former Air Force pilot, Peterson, 66, spent more than six years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
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