The winnowing begins in Democratic race as Swalwell drops out

"I promised my family, constituents, and supporters that I would always be honest about our chances," Swalwell said. "After the first Democratic presidential debate, our polling and fundraising numbers weren’t what we had hoped for, and I no longer see a path forward to the nomination."

Swalwell did get some attention during the first Democratic debate in Miami, when he went after former Vice President Joe Biden, and said it was time for Biden to 'pass the torch' to a younger generation of Democrats.

"I was six years old when a Presidential candidate came to the California Democratic convention and said, 'It's time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans," Swalwell said.

But the gambit produced no boost for Swalwell, who scrapped a planned trip to New Hampshire last week.

Like a number of others now in the race for the Democratic nomination, Swalwell had been making the rounds on TV, going to Iowa, and New Hampshire - but had little to show for it in terms of momentum or notice.

"This is about 3 months overdue," said GOP pollster Frank Luntz.

"Swalwell's Presidential campaign lasted exactly three months," noted Rob Pyers, a California political researcher.

The Democratic race remains filled with people just like Swalwell, who harbor dreams of winning their party's nomination, but are little more than an asterisk in the polls, less than one percent in the polling averages.

It is not unusual for candidates to give up before the first primary and caucus states even arrive.

The next Democratic debate is set for July 30-31 in Detroit, to be hosted by CNN.