Duncan ends campaign for governor

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Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan yesterday unexpectedly quit his campaign for governor, saying his once-secret battle with depression forced him from the race.

"For over a year now, in the course of waging a vigorous and aggressive campaign, I've struggled with what has been recently diagnosed as depression," Mr. Duncan, a Democrat, told a crowd of friends and supporters at a press conference in Rockville. "It is difficult for me to announce today that I will no longer be a candidate for governor of Maryland, but it is the right decision for me, my family and our state."

Mr. Duncan, 50, who smiled broadly when greeted by a standing ovation, made the announcement in a three-minute prepared speech, then quickly exited without taking reporters' questions. He plans to serve out his term as county executive, which ends this year, but will not seek an elected office for the first time in decades.

His abrupt exit clears the way for Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley to pick up the now-uncontested Democratic nomination for governor and face Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican, in November.

Maryland Democratic Party Chairman Terry Lierman, who attended the press conference, said Mr. Duncan's decision to quit was "like an early primary" that would boost Mr. O'Malley's campaign against Mr. Ehrlich.

A poll in April by nonpartisan Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies showed Mr. O'Malley leading Mr. Ehrlich in a head-to-head race 46 percent to 41 percent, with 13 percent undecided.

Mr. Duncan, who had peppered Mr. O'Malley with attacks on Baltimore's crime and education problems, yesterday endorsed his former rival. However, Duncan campaign staffers expressed doubt that supporters automatically would back Mr. O'Malley.

The end of Mr. Duncan's run -- after eight months on the campaign trail and about 12 weeks before the primary election -- shocked his campaign staff, friends, supporters and politicians from both parties

"I was very surprised," said Delegate Richard S. Madaleno Jr., a Montgomery County Democrat. "I give him great credit for putting himself and his family first and talking about a problem that a lot of people struggle with but don't talk about."

Mr. Duncan's disclosure at about 2 p.m. also raised more questions than answers and prompted wild speculation about whether he wanted to exit the race for other reasons.