Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is expected to drop out of the Democratic presidential race on Thursday, a source close to Hickenlooper told NBC News on Wednesday night.
Hickenlooper, who has struggled to top 1 percent in polling among Democratic candidates, is widely believed to be considering switching races to challenge Republican Sen. Cory Gardner. Polls indicate Hickenlooper would enter the Senate campaign with a large lead.
Early this month, Hickenlooper, 67, said in a Sirius radio interview that if he couldn't crack 2 percent in the Democratic field, "I'd be a fool to spend two years" running for president.
NBC affiliate KUSA of Denver reported this month that a Colorado political consultant had reserved several "Hickenlooper for Senate" web addresses.
