(FRANKFORT, Ky.) Republican Bill Johnson is bowing out of the U.S. Senate race in Kentucky, citing an internal poll that showed him trailing two better known GOP candidates.
Johnson made the announcement Wednesday afternoon.
The western Kentucky businessman shot down a widely held belief that he was a spoiler in the race by leaving without endorsing either of his chief rivals _ Bowling Green eye surgeon Rand Paul and Secretary of State Trey Grayson.
Johnson said the results of his internal poll suggested he had little chance of winning the Republican primary.
His departure leaves five Republicans and five Democrats vying for the seat of retiring Sen. Jim Bunning, who opted not to seek a third term.
