Carey Baker drops out of Ag Commissioner race

State Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis, just sent out e-mail saying he’s withdrawing from the race for Agriculture Commissioner. This leaves U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow — who’s got roughly $1 million in his campaign warchest — as the only major Republican in the race.

Baker, who raised about $500,000, didn’t mention Putnam in his announcement.

Here’s what Baker said in his e-mail:

“As with any campaign, you have to achieve certain objectives to set yourself up for victory. I had to prepare myself to wage a full-scale campaign that would give Floridians a chance to see what I had to offer them if elected Commissioner of Agriculture. This would not be an easy task in a big state like ours, but nothing ever worth pursuing is easy.

Unfortunately, I was unable to meet those goals. And so I was faced with a difficult decision, but ultimately a necessary one. With so many other challenges to address in our state, particularly in the Legislature, it would be wrong of me to continue a campaign when I have not met the goals I need to win. It’s time for me to choose where I am most prepared to help the people of Florida.”