Jindal bows out of GOP presidential primary race

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal dropped out of the Republican presidential primary race tonight, ending a campaign that failed to gain traction with likely voters and donors.

Jindal, 44, never polled well enough to make the main stage in any of the GOP debates, further hurting his chances of being heard above the crowd of other contenders. But he isn’t leaving the race with sour grapes. Jindal said he isn’t ready to endorse one of his former rivals but pledged to support the party’s eventual nominee.

“I’ve come to the realization that this is not my time,” Jindal said during an appearance on Fox News.

Term limits prevented Jindal, the first Indian-American elected as a state governor, from running for reelection. He has a strong conservative track record in Louisiana, but he was unable to translate that success into the national political conversation.

In the new year, Jindal plans to devote time to the think tank he started several years ago. He has not been shy in the past about calling the Republican Party to more effectively communicate its message to the American people.

“Going forward, I believe we have to be the party of growth, and we can never stop being the party that believes in opportunity,” he said in a statement. “We cannot settle for the left’s view of envy and division.”

Jindal is the third Republican hopeful to bow out of the race. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry ended his campaign in September, followed quickly by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.