By Devon Spurgeon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, January 12, 1998; Page A04

San Diego Mayor Susan Golding has dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination for Senate, ending a bid to unseat Democratic incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer. Her departure narrows the GOP field to state Treasurer Matt Fong and Darrell Issa, a wealthy businessman.

Golding told reporters that to keep running, she would have to devote herself full time to raising money and shirk her responsibilities as mayor, Reuters reported.

In recent weeks, Golding ran a distant third in statewide polling behind the better-known and better-funded Fong and Issa, a car alarm mogul with an estimated worth exceeding $200 million who has said he plans to spend millions of his money on the campaign. Golding had raised $900,000 and had spent $800,000. She said she will serve out her second term as mayor, which ends in 2000.