Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich formally announced today that he is dropping his presidential bid to focus on maintaining his congressional seat.

In an interview Thursday, Kucinich told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he is prepared to “accept [defeat]” and “move on.”

“I won't be president, but I can continue to fight for these important issues as the United States congressman representing the community that is first in my heart, Cleveland, Ohio,” he told a crowded town hall in his home district Friday afternoon.

Kucinich, a democrat, received only one percent of the popular vote in the New Hampshire primary after an equally embarrasing performance at the Iowa Caucuses. He never broke double digits in any of the primaries, despite a vocal base of supporters.

He will now return to Ohio to face four challengers in the congressional primary, including rival candidate Joe Cimperman, who has been critical of Kucinich for spending too much time on the presidential campaign trail, rather than focusing on the needs of his constituents.

Kucinich did not immediately offer an endorsement for another democrat, though he may in the near future.