There Must Be a Mistake. Tong Gone From Senate Race. 57 Ways to Lose.

State Representative William Tong’s U.S. Senate campaign disputed a Daily Ructions report five weeks ago that the campaign was reaching an end as staff members left for more promising candidates. On the contrary, the Tong campaign claimed, it was entering a new phase with a more experienced staff ready to take the campaign through the Democratic convention and into the August primary.

Today, Tong took a powder from the race in a self-reverential appearance in which the Sanforized violet threatened to run for statewide office again. Tong, whose fundraising was lagging his competitors, had gathered the support of few delegates in his year-long bid for the Democratic nomination.

Tong probably learned some lessons in his fruitless quest for higher office. So did those who observed him. That’s one reason Tong had to leave the race today.