George Pataki speaks during the CNN Republican presidential debate at the in Las Vegas earlier this month. Seated in front of a fireplace, Pataki said that the country needs to elect a president who can do three things: “confront and defeat radical Islam, shrink the size and power of Washington, and unite us again in our belief in this great country.” 
 
 “I’m confident we can elect the right person. Pataki, 70, once was an impressive figure in Republican politics: He upset a Democratic legend, then-New York Gov. The key moments of Pataki’s political biography were even further in the past: the trying days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the stupendous defeat of Cuomo in 1994. The Republican's candidacy never took off, and he's leaving the race with an average of zero percent support in national polls. He also never managed to make it to the main debate stage. In a race that has often been dominated by political outsiders, Pataki is the fourth current or former governor to drop out, following Rick Perry, Scott Walker and Bobby Jindal. After ousting Mario Cuomo in 1994, Pataki served three terms as New York's governor, from 1995 to 2006.
– And then there were 12: George Pataki is dropping out of the presidential race, reports the New York Times. The reason is pretty clear: The former New York governor was averaging 0% in national polls and never once qualified for the main debate stage, reports Politico. The Washington Post also observes that his big moments—upsetting Mario Cuomo in New York in 1994 and leading his home state after the 9/11 attacks—are well in the past. Also not helping: The 70-year-old hasn't held office since 2006, and he's pro-choice, backs gun control, and champions compromise across party lines, putting him out of step with leading rivals in the GOP. Pataki told his supporters of his decision Tuesday, and made it official in a Tuesday night announcement. "While tonight I suspend my campaign for president, I am confident we can elect the right person," he said.