SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff suspended his campaign for U.S. Senate on Wednesday, saying he needs to spend more time with a daughter who is experiencing severe mental health problems.
It wasn't immediately clear whether Shurtleff would drop out of the race altogether.
Campaign spokesman Jason Powers declined to comment, although a news conference was scheduled for later Wednesday.
Shurtleff is one of several Republicans challenging U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett for the GOP nomination this spring.
Shurtleff was considered Bennett's most serious challenger, although Bennett has maintained a sizable fundraising lead.
The most recent Federal Election Commission reports show Bennett has raised about $1.6 million and has about $790,000 cash on hand, while Shurtleff raised about $209,000 and had $146,000 in the bank.
Bennett's three other Republican challengers have little statewide name recognition or political experience.
"This announcement comes with sorrow because I do want to serve my country, and I do believe both political parties have put this nation in grave danger by spending so foolishly that our children and grandchildren will have a difficult time recovering," Shurtleff said in a prepared statement.
Shurtleff's primary attacks on Bennett revolved around Bennett's support for bank bailouts and a health care proposal that would require individuals to buy health insurance. He also criticized Bennett for being in office too long. When first elected in 1992, Bennett pledged to serve only two terms.
Shurtleff said he would continue to serve as attorney general.
"I want to thank the thousands of supporters who have been by my side thus far. I ask for your prayers for my family and specifically my daughter. We don't think our trials are any harder than rest of the world's, but right now, we could use a little extra help," Shurtleff said.
Bennett's campaign did not immediately have a comment.
Although Bennett enjoyed a significant fundraising lead, he has repeatedly said this would be his most difficult election yet. In Utah, even candidates who are unknown to most of the state can mount a serious challenge through the state's party convention system, where 3,500 delegates choose the party's nominees.
Only candidates who fail to earn 60 percent of delegate votes are forced into a costly primary. Shurtleff had said all along his strategy was to defeat Bennett at the GOP convention in May.
In highly conservative Utah, whoever wins the GOP nomination is likely to cruise to victory in the general election.
The only Democrat to file for the Senate seat so far is Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control chairman Sam Granato, who has never held elected office.
