Page 24 - HOH

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 12 February 2020

Yang, who created buzz with freedom dividend, ends 2020 bid

"I am the math guy, and it is cratic nominee. Yang grew
clear to me from the num- his outsider candidacy by
bers that we are not go- campaigning as a non-
ing to win this race," Yang politician, someone who
said in front of a crowd of mixed unconventional
supporters as votes in New campaign events — from
Hampshire's first-in-the- bowling to ax throwing —
nation primary were being with serious talk about the
counted. millions of jobs lost to auto-
"This is not an easy decision, mation and artificial intel-
or something I made lightly ligence and the dark out-
with the team. Endings are look for American jobs and
hard and I've always had communities.
the intention to stay in the The graduate of Brown Uni-
race until the very end," he versity and Columbia Law
added. " But I have been School gave campaign
persuaded that the mes- speeches full of statistics
sage of this campaign will and studies that often re-
not be strengthened by my sembled an economics
In this Feb. 7, 2020, photo, Democratic presidential candidate entrepreneur Andrew Yang speaks staying in the race any lon- seminar. His supporters,
during a Democratic presidential primary debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H.
Associated Press ger." known as the Yang Gang,
The 45-year-old was one donned blue hats and pins
By SARA BURNETT ated buzz for his presiden- basic income that would of the breakout stars of with the word MATH —
Associated Press tial campaign by talking give every American adult the Democratic primary short for his slogan Make
Democrat Andrew Yang, about his love of math and $1,000 per month, suspend- race, building a following America Think Harder.
an entrepreneur who cre- championing a universal ed his 2020 bid on Tuesday. that started largely online Yang promoted his signa-
but expanded to give him ture issue of universal basic
enough donors and poll- income, which he dubbed
ing numbers to qualify for the "freedom dividend," by
the first six debates. Yang announcing during a de-
announced his departure bate that he would choose
from the race shortly be- individuals to receive the
fore Colorado Sen. Michael monthly $1,000 checks. The
Bennet did Tuesday night, statement prompted ques-
bringing the Democratic tions about whether he
field to single digits. was trying to buy votes, but
He outlasted senators and also generated a buzz on-
governors, and after initially line and helped the cam-
self-funding his campaign, paign build a list of possible
he raised more money than supporters.
most of his rivals, bringing in His poll numbers were high
over $16 million in the final enough, combined with
quarter of last year. It was a his fundraising strength, to
bigger haul than all but the qualify for him for all of the
top four candidates: Ver- 2019 debates, though he
mont Sen. Bernie Sanders, fell short of Democratic Na-
former South Bend, Indi- tional Committee's quali-
ana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, fications to participate
former Vice President Joe in the January debate in
Biden and Massachusetts Iowa. He was, however,
Sen. Elizabeth Warren. one of seven candidates
"We went from a mailing who participated in Friday's
list that started with just my debate in New Hampshire.
Gmail contact list to receiv- His departure from the race
ing donations from over almost guarantees that the
400,000 people around the Democrats, who once had
country and millions more the most diverse presiden-
who supported this cam- tial field in history, will have
paign," Yang said before no candidates of color on
pledging to support who- the debate stage again
ever becomes the Demo- this cycle.q