Dixie Minson, the only woman among the major gubernatorial candidates this year, dropped out of the race Monday afternoon saying she doesn't have the support of party insiders and without it she can't beat the "old boy system."
Minson held several posts in GOP Gov. Norm Bangerter's administration, resigning as an industrial commissioner two months ago to pursue her campaign. Minson said she doubts she'll return to the commission. "I'll take several months off, later decide who I'll support (in the race) and what I'll do now."While Minson has been aggressive in the few debates so far among the candidates for governor, her campaign was strapped for money and she was trailing in the polls.
The latest Deseret News/KSL-TV poll showed that Minson had 5 percent support in a GOP primary, but only 3 percent support among those who told pollster Dan Jones & Associates they are Republicans. Minson said she spent $15,000 to $20,000 of her own money on the race, "all that I have."
"As Abraham Lincoln said, `A house divided cannot stand.' It's time for the Republican Party to get its act together," said Minson. "For the sake of party unity, I need to move aside." She believes it's time for the party leaders to unite and put their best candidate forward to defeat the Democrats in November.
Minson's exit leaves Republicans Richard Eyre, Mike Leavitt and Mike Stewart in the race. Also running are Democrats Pat Shea and Stewart Hanson and Independent Party leader Merrill Cook. The candidate filing deadline is April 15.
Minson said Republican officeholders - "the insiders who are not party leaders" - have grouped around one candidate - Leavitt. "Mike has been running for a long time, he's got the inside track. He's made his maneuvers; promises have been given. I can't compete with that," she said.
She said her inability to break into the "old boy system" may not have anything to do with her being a woman. "I don't say that. Maybe it's just Dixie Minson, me as a candidate. I believe I am a strong candidate. But I don't have the money to hire a professional staff, to get my message out. The campaign just isn't moving like I wanted it to."
When Minson first announced for governor, some speculated she was really running for lieutenant governor - that she wanted to be picked by a front-running male candidate to be on his ticket.
But she said Monday, "I have no real hope of being picked up as someone's lieutenant governor, although I'll leave the door open."