This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/06/liz-cheney-ends-senate-campaign-health-family

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Liz Cheney ends Senate campaign over 'serious health issues' in family Liz Cheney ends Senate campaign over 'serious health issues' in family
(about 17 hours later)
Liz Cheney, the daughter of the former vice-president Dick Cheney, has abandoned her fraught campaign to be a Republican senator for Wyoming.Liz Cheney, the daughter of the former vice-president Dick Cheney, has abandoned her fraught campaign to be a Republican senator for Wyoming.
In a statement released on Monday, Liz Cheney cited “serious health issues” relating to her family for the decision to suspend her primary campaign against Senator Mike Enzi, the long-time Republican incumbent.In a statement released on Monday, Liz Cheney cited “serious health issues” relating to her family for the decision to suspend her primary campaign against Senator Mike Enzi, the long-time Republican incumbent.
Unable to catch up in the polls with Enzi, a popular figure in Wyoming, Cheney’s bid for a political career appeared doomed from the start. Her campaign will mostly be remembered for the ugly public spat that broke out with her sister over the issue of same-sex marriage.Unable to catch up in the polls with Enzi, a popular figure in Wyoming, Cheney’s bid for a political career appeared doomed from the start. Her campaign will mostly be remembered for the ugly public spat that broke out with her sister over the issue of same-sex marriage.
“Serious health issues have recently arisen in our family, and under the circumstances, I have decided to discontinue my campaign,” Liz Cheney said in a statement released on Monday. "My children and their futures were the motivation for our campaign and their health and well-being will always be my overriding priority." She thanked the "thousands of people in Wyoming and all across the country who have supported my campaign", and added: "As a mother and a patriot, I know that the work of defending freedom and protecting liberty must continue for each generation."“Serious health issues have recently arisen in our family, and under the circumstances, I have decided to discontinue my campaign,” Liz Cheney said in a statement released on Monday. "My children and their futures were the motivation for our campaign and their health and well-being will always be my overriding priority." She thanked the "thousands of people in Wyoming and all across the country who have supported my campaign", and added: "As a mother and a patriot, I know that the work of defending freedom and protecting liberty must continue for each generation."
For the Cheney family, the attempt to pass the conservative baton from one generation to the next has ended in embarrassing failure. But Liz Cheney’s decision to end her primary challenge, first reported on CNN, might come as some relief to her father, who has watched as her campaign went from bad to worse.For the Cheney family, the attempt to pass the conservative baton from one generation to the next has ended in embarrassing failure. But Liz Cheney’s decision to end her primary challenge, first reported on CNN, might come as some relief to her father, who has watched as her campaign went from bad to worse.
Although Dick Cheney represented Wyoming’s sole congressional district the House of Representatives for five terms, his daughter had to relocate to the state from Virginia in 2012 and was cast as an outsider from the beginning. In August, Liz Cheney, who was born in Wisconsin, was fined $220 for purchasing an Wyoming fishing license for which she was not yet eligible. Although Dick Cheney represented Wyoming’s sole congressional district in the House of Representatives for five terms, his daughter had to relocate to the state from Virginia in 2012 and was cast as an outsider from the beginning. In August, Liz Cheney, who was born in Wisconsin, was fined $220 for purchasing an Wyoming fishing license for which she was not yet eligible.
Leading figures in Wyoming’s Republican party, including its other senator, John Barrasso, and Representative Cynthia Lummis, rallied behind Enzi. Already isolated, Liz Cheney succeeded in unnecessarily alienating Wyoming’s newspapers by responding to some bad press by declaring: “Newspapers are dying, and that’s not a bad thing.”Leading figures in Wyoming’s Republican party, including its other senator, John Barrasso, and Representative Cynthia Lummis, rallied behind Enzi. Already isolated, Liz Cheney succeeded in unnecessarily alienating Wyoming’s newspapers by responding to some bad press by declaring: “Newspapers are dying, and that’s not a bad thing.”
But it was a family feud, which spilled over in November and embroiled the former vice-president, that perhaps did most to ruin Liz Cheney’s already tarnished reputation and all but end her Senate ambitions.But it was a family feud, which spilled over in November and embroiled the former vice-president, that perhaps did most to ruin Liz Cheney’s already tarnished reputation and all but end her Senate ambitions.
Cheney had been struggling for months to define a clear stance on gay marriage, an important issue for Republican primary voters in a solidly conservative state where only 42% of people approve of same-sex marriage. It also had a personal dimension: her sister Mary is in a same-sex marriage, and Dick Cheney declared his support for same-sex unions in 2009.Cheney had been struggling for months to define a clear stance on gay marriage, an important issue for Republican primary voters in a solidly conservative state where only 42% of people approve of same-sex marriage. It also had a personal dimension: her sister Mary is in a same-sex marriage, and Dick Cheney declared his support for same-sex unions in 2009.
Finally, during an interview on Fox News in November, Liz Cheney said she supported “the traditional definition of marriage".Finally, during an interview on Fox News in November, Liz Cheney said she supported “the traditional definition of marriage".
The declaration prompted Mary's wife and longtime partner, Heather Poe, to respond on Facebook that her sister-in-law’s comments had been "offensive to say the least". In September, Mary Cheney had said: "For the record, I love my sister, but she is dead wrong on the issue of marriage."The declaration prompted Mary's wife and longtime partner, Heather Poe, to respond on Facebook that her sister-in-law’s comments had been "offensive to say the least". In September, Mary Cheney had said: "For the record, I love my sister, but she is dead wrong on the issue of marriage."
Dick Cheney, who announced his support for same-sex marriage, expressed his upset over the row. “This is an issue we have dealt with privately for many years, and we are pained to see it become public,” he said in a statement released with his wife, Lynne.Dick Cheney, who announced his support for same-sex marriage, expressed his upset over the row. “This is an issue we have dealt with privately for many years, and we are pained to see it become public,” he said in a statement released with his wife, Lynne.
The tone of statement appeared to suggest Dick Cheney was siding with Liz – or at least attempting to limit the impact of the spat on her electoral fortunes.The tone of statement appeared to suggest Dick Cheney was siding with Liz – or at least attempting to limit the impact of the spat on her electoral fortunes.
“Liz has always believed in the traditional definition of marriage,” he said. “She has also always treated her sister and her sister's family with love and respect, exactly as she should have done. Compassion is called for, even when there is disagreement about such a fundamental matter and Liz's many kindnesses shouldn't be used to distort her position.”“Liz has always believed in the traditional definition of marriage,” he said. “She has also always treated her sister and her sister's family with love and respect, exactly as she should have done. Compassion is called for, even when there is disagreement about such a fundamental matter and Liz's many kindnesses shouldn't be used to distort her position.”
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.