News Alert: Brownback to drop out?

Brownback expected to drop out of GOP field

Kansas Senator Sam Brownback is about to drop out of the Republican presidential nomination race, the Associated Press is reporting this morning.

Brownback aimed squarely at support from religious conservatives, but he finished behind former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee -- who is seeking the same voters -- in the Ames straw poll in Iowa in August and has not recovered.

This week, he reporting raising a little more than $800,000 in the third quarter of this year, his lowest quarterly amount since entering the race. Brownback appeared this week before the Globe's editorial board and talked about his efforts to reach out to Democrats and independents on issues such as aid to Africa and a congressional resolution apologizing for slavery.

The AP said he is expected announce his withdrawal on Friday in Topeka, Kan. "I know Senator Brownback enjoyed campaigning and meeting new people in talking about ideas for the future of America, but I think it came down to money," one person close to Brownback, who requested anonymity because the candidate had not yet announced his plans, told the AP.

Brownback's withdrawal is expected to help Huckabee, but could also help the prospects of Mitt Romney, who is also aggressively seeking the support of evangelical Christians.