Rep. Peter King said he's bowing out of the Senate race because he doesn't think it's worth it to challenge a no-name.
The Republican from Long Island said he will not challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand -- but he would have run against Caroline Kennedy for the position if Gov. David Paterson had appointed her to the seat.
"I would have run if Caroline Kennedy were the Democratic candidate," King told the New York Daily News . "Her candidacy would have generated the media coverage and financial contributions necessary for me to run a competitive race."
The governor chose Gillibrand, a congresswoman from upstate, to fill the senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton after Kennedy lobbied for it.
"With Gillibrand, nobody really cares about her one way or the other. They don't even realize she's there," King said.
He said he wants the seat but thinks it would be too difficult to raise the funds necessary to run a successful campaign.
"I would have to spend every waking moment over the next year trying to raise money for that race," King told the News. "And it would be a stretch. "
