U.S. Democratic presidential contender Andrew Yang(front) attends a rally at George Mason University, Virginia, the United States, on Nov. 4, 2019. U.S. entrepreneur Andrew Yang, who pushed for a universal individual basic income of 1,000 U.S. dollars per month, dropped out of the 2020 presidential race on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. entrepreneur Andrew Yang, who pushed for a universal individual basic income of 1,000 U.S. dollars per month, dropped out of the 2020 presidential race on Tuesday.
"I am the math guy, and it is clear to me from the numbers that we are not going to win this race," Yang told supporters shortly after the polls closed in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary.
The Democratic contender said he was persuaded that "the message of this campaign will not be strengthened by (his) staying in the race any longer."
"So tonight, I am announcing I am suspending my campaign for president," he said, adding that he remains open to becoming other candidates' running mate in the general election.
Born into a family of Chinese descent in Schenectady, New York, and aged 45, Yang was a former tech executive working at various startups in Silicon Valley. He has no prior experience in politics.
Apart from his "universal basic income" initiative, Yang also highlighted issues such as robotics and artificial intelligence, drawing on his experience in related sectors as a businessman.
