Boston Nonprofit Leader Khazei Drops U.S. Senate Bid

Charity leader and national-service advocate Alan Khazei is withdrawing from the Democratic primary race to challenge Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown next year, writes The Boston Globe.

The head of Boston community organization Be the Change and co-founder of the service charity City Year plans to make a formal announcement Thursday at his campaign office, a Khazei spokesman said.

Wednesday morning, before his departure from the race had been confirmed, Mr. Khazei told the Globe the candidacy of Harvard Law professor and consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren has “definitely affected my position” in terms of fund raising and media attention.

National Democratic leaders had urged Ms. Warren to enter the race, and party support coalesced around her when she joined the field last month. “She has struck a chord, no doubt about it,” said Mr. Khazei, who finished third in the Democratic primary in last year’s special election to replace Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.