Owings dropping out of Md. governor's race

George W. Owings III is ending his long-shot bid to win the Democratic nomination for governor of Maryland.

In an e-mail to friends Wednesday, Owings, a former state veterans affairs secretary and delegate from Southern Maryland, said he was withdrawing from the race to recuperate from major surgery.

"While my heart and mind remain focused and committed to the campaign, the reality is that limited energy and stamina, coupled with restricted travel, leave me without the ability to function at a level necessary to pull off what would have been an historic upset in Maryland politics," Owings said in the e-mail.

He said he planned to send the same statement to the media Thursday morning.

Owings mounted a primary challenge to Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) in January, attempting to run to his right on issues including the state budget and the death penalty. His departure leaves O'Malley with only token opposition in the Democratic primary.