Campaign 2012: GOP Dropouts | Campaign 2012: GOP Dropouts | Comcast.net News

For many, the race to replace President Barack Obama seemed to start in January 2008.

Four long years later, the crowded field of Republican candidates chomping at the bit to replace Obama is finally thinning down to just one man (or two, Ron Paul! with Newt Gingrich stepping out of the race May 2.

Some candidates dropped out early, some offered impassioned Pokemon-themed goodbyes...some never actually said they were running at all, but still had to make official statements that they weren't in the race.

Hundreds of millions of dollars were raised and spent, but only one man is left leading the GOP field.

Here's a look at the long, and sometimes strange, race to the final 2012 showdown with incumbent President Obama.

(AP Photos)





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