Attorney Jacob Meister won't be “a
voice for Illinois,” as his campaign slogan offered. The openly
gay candidate announced Sunday he is dropping out of the Democratic
primary for U.S. Senate, gay news site ChicagoPride.com
reported.
He said he would throw his support to
State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, who supports gay marriage.
“Alexi is well ahead in the polls,”
Meister told the Chicago Sun-Times. “He's going to be our
party's nominee and I think we need to come together around him.”
The announcement comes three days
before Tuesday's primary, but the campaign had run aground weeks ago.
Its most memorable moment came two weeks ago when it flung charges
of discrimination after Meister was excluded from a Democratic debate
broadcast on Chicago PBS affiliate WTTW.
Campaign officials considered appealing
the decision to the Federal Communications Commission. But the fact
that two candidates were not invited – one being straight –
dampened the allegation.
Meister also lacked the backing of the
Victory
Fund, a group that promotes openly gay and lesbian elected
officials.
Meister was campaigning to fill the
seat vacated by President Obama. Senator Roland Burris, a Governor
Blagojevich appointee, has stepped aside.