While tonight I suspend my campaign for president, I am confident we can elect the right person. https://t.co/mr4UunWASs

Former New York governor George Pataki told some of his key New Hampshire supporters Tuesday afternoon that he is ending his Republican presidential campaign.

Pataki, who flirted with presidential runs in 2008 and 2012, announced his campaign in late May. He put together a local steering committee that included two Republican state senators, but after that failed to gain traction.

Two Pataki supporters said they talked with the former three-term governor and said they weren't surprised but disappointed to hear the news. Pataki last visited New Hampshire on Dec. 4.

In the latest WBUR poll of New Hampshire Republicans, where Pataki spent most of his time campaigning, he had zero support. Pataki was hurt by poor fund-raising and the fact that he never made a main debate stage and was relegated to debates that did not received as many viewers.


Pataki follows US Senator Lindsey Graham, who dropped out of the race last week. There are now a dozen major Republicans running for president.

James Pindell can be reached at james.pindell@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @jamespindell. Click here to subscribe to his daily e-mail update on the 2016 campaign.