Amodei out of Senate race

State Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, today dropped out of the Republican primary for the chance to challenge U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., in November.

Amodei charmed voters he encountered with quick wit and an apparent command of the issues. But it wasn't enough to help him get out of single digits in statewide public opinion polls.

"We weren't real sophisticated in terms of our approach to the media and we weren't real hard sell in terms of our funding approach," said Amodei.

He said he raised about $60,000 to $70,000, far less than leaders Danny Tarkanian, Sue Lowden, Sharron Angle and John Chachas.

Amodei said he decided to drop out now in part to focus on the upcoming special session of the legislature, during which lawmakers and Gov. Jim Gibbons need to balance a budget that has an estimated $887 million shortfall.

"I don't want people saying Amodei is out there trying to use the special session as a device to promote his candidacy," he said.