ASHINGTON - Former Vice President Dan Quayle plans to announce today that he is quitting the race for the Republican presidential nomination, becoming the fourth White House prospect to leave a GOP race dominated by the financial and political strength of George W. Bush.
Quayle met with his wife, Marilyn, and senior aides over the weekend and concluded that he did not have the money to compete under next year's extraordinarily compressed primary schedule, according to a senior aide who spoke on condition of anonymity.
''He concluded the resources were not there to compete in the 18 or so contests in the 30 days following the New Hampshire primary,'' the aide said last night. The official said that while Quayle believed he could have won in the Granite State, he was not likely to have the money to compete with Bush after that.
Quayle is not expected to endorse a candidate at his news conference today, the aide said. Quayle's withdrawal once again focuses attention on Bush's strength; the Texas governor has collected a stunning $55 million, draining much of the financial oxygen out of the Republican contest.
Quayle has been hobbled from the start of the race for several reasons. Many analysts believe he has never been able to overcome his introduction to the public in 1988, when the little-known Indiana senator was selected as the vice presidential nominee by George Bush. Fairly or not, he was portrayed as a wealthy man who avoided combat duty by enlisting in the National Guard. He was mocked for his misspelling of the word ''potato,'' a minor mistake that came to symbolize questions about his intelligence.
In fact, Quayle was not nearly as wealthy as some believed, and friends always insisted that he was more intelligent than many realized. But there was no doubt that his timing was awkward this year, competing against the son of former President Bush, his former running mate. As a result, many ''Bushies,'' loyalists to the Bush-Quayle administration, were put in the position of having to pick between Quayle and George W. Bush. Bush won most of the support and the vast majority of the money.
Quayle's weakness was apparent at the Iowa straw poll in August, when the former vice president came in eighth place. Quayle, who had focused most of his attention on the first-caucus state, insisted afterward that he would stay in the race through next year, saying he would ''absolutely not'' quit.
''I believe I am the only one who can put the Reagan coalition together, the social conservatives, economic conservatives, national defense conservatives,'' Quayle said.
A Boston Globe survey in August found that Bush was leading in New Hampshire among likely Republican voters with 44 percent. Quayle received 4 percent.
Given Quayle's weak financial support, he may have feared the public reaction to a report he is required to file with the Federal Election Commission. The third quarter financial reports are due on Sept. 30. As of June 30, Quayle had raised slightly over $5 million, but his expenses were quickly devouring the funds.
Bush, who has legally avoided the cap on total contributions by rejecting federal matching funds, has raised about $55 million so far. Quayle believed Bush would raise $100 million by next year, a staggering amount of money by the standards of any campaign.
Quayle is the fourth candidate to leave the Republican race. Previously this year, Representative John R. Kasich of Ohio and former Governor Lamar Alexander of Tennessee pulled out of the Republican race, and Senator Bob Smith of New Hampshire left the GOP field to launch an independent bid.
Patrick J. Buchanan, the former CNN commentator, is considering leaving the GOP and running for the Reform Party nomination.
Aside from Bush, the best-financed candidate is Steve Forbes, who is tapping his personal fortune. The other remaining candidates in the race include Elizabeth Dole, Senator John McCain of Arizona, Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, former Reagan aide Gary Bauer and talk show host Alan Keyes.
