The embattled governor of New York state, David Paterson, has abandoned his bid to be elected for a full term in his own right.
Mr Paterson, the state's first black governor, who is legally blind, has been accused of trying to protect an aide involved in a domestic violence case.
Though giving up his campaign he has again denied the allegations and vowed to stay in office "fighting for the state of New York."
Mr Paterson came to office in March 2008 when his predecessor, Eliot Spitzer, abruptly resigned in a prostitution scandal. He was sworn in to serve the remainder of Mr Spitzer's term but had hoped to win a four-year term of his own.
He is New York's first African-American governor and the first legally blind person to hold such a post permanently.
