PROVIDENCE -- Secretary of State Matt Brown, dogged by questions about his fundraising practices in the campaign for U.S. Senate, dropped out of the race this afternoon, citing money problems.
Brown threw his support behind fellow Democrat and former state Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse.
They were both vying for the seat held by Republican Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee. Chafee faces his own opponent in the Republican primary, Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey.
Brown had a strong showing in an independent poll by Brown University early this year, but in recent months, he has struggled with dwindling funds and persistent questions about a series of donations made to his campaign by Democratic parties in three other states.
Brown in March acknowledged his campaign took $25,000 in donations from state Democratic parties in Hawaii, Maine and Massachusetts, then steered its most generous donors to give money to those parties.
ARTICLE TOOLS: 
