WASHINGTON -- Harold E. Ford Jr. has given up his quest for a U.S. Senate seat from New

York, likely leaving Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, the incumbent, without a big-money challenger

in her race for the Democratic nomination.

"I've examined this race in every possible way, and I keep returning to the same

fundamental conclusion: If I run, the likely result would be a brutal and highly negative

Democratic primary ... a primary where the winner emerges weakened and the Republican

strengthened," Ford said in a New York Times op-ed piece to be published today.

Politics Now blog: Ford's announcement raises interesting questions about Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown

"I refuse to do anything that would help Republicans win a Senate seat in New York and give

the Senate majority to the Republicans," wrote Ford, a former Tennessee congressman.

Ford's abrupt and surprising decision to abandon what looked like a campaign radically

changed the shape of New York Democratic politics for the second time in less than a week.

Just last Friday, embattled Gov. David A. Paterson announced he would not seek election to a full term, clearing the Democratic field for State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo to get the gubernatorial nomination.

Ford, a vice chairman of Merrill Lynch, became a New York City media darling not long after

he signaled that he was interested in running against Gillibrand, the little-known Hudson

Valley politician whom Paterson appointed when then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton resigned last

year to become secretary of state.

The charismatic Ford traveled the state, wooing politicians who had not developed a close

relationship with Gillibrand.

And some ... including Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown ... met with Ford and appeared to welcome

his candidacy.

But the White House; Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y.; and other top Democrats in the state

opposed Ford's candidacy, fearing a divisive Democratic primary would weaken the party's

chances of holding the seat in November.

Leonard R. Lenihan, chairman of the Erie County Democratic Party, said he was relieved by

Ford's decision.

"This primary could have been confrontational and difficult," Lenihan said. "I think this

is a good thing. It certainly bodes well for Sen. Gillibrand."

Glenn Caplin, Gillibrand's spokesman, said the senator "has shown that she takes a back

seat to no one when it comes to fighting for New York, and no matter who her opponent is this

fall, she will wage a vigorous campaign on her strong record and her vision for New York."

In his op-ed piece, Ford complains about the party's "campaign to bully me out of the

race," saying that showed Democrats are nervous.

As a congressman, Ford described himself as "pro-life," said illegal immigrants should be

deported if caught and voted for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union

between a man and a woman.

Gillibrand ignored Ford when he declared he was testing the waters. But after Ford began

regularly challenging her, the race that was not yet a race quickly turned ugly.

Ford called Gillibrand various names, including a hypocrite, a liar, an unelected senator

and a parakeet who takes positions based on whatever party leaders tell her to do.