Feb. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, who was the leading contender for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination at the start of the year, said he is ending campaign after failing to win a single primary or caucus.

``I am no longer actively pursuing the presidency,'' Dean said in a televised speech from his headquarters in Burlington, Vermont. ``We have led this party back to considering what its heart and soul is, although there is a lot of work left to do.''

Dean said he may convert his campaign organization into an advocacy group to advance the issues he raised in the race, such as opposition to the war in Iraq and providing health insurance for Americans who don't have coverage.

Dean, 55, raised a record amount for a Democratic candidate in 2003 -- $41 million -- and at the beginning of January led in polls of Democratic voters in the states holding the first votes in the nomination race. Still, Dean placed third in the Jan. 19 Iowa caucuses behind Massachusetts Senator John Kerry and North Carolina Senator John Edwards. He was second behind Kerry in the Jan. 27 New Hampshire primary.

In last night's Wisconsin Democratic primary, Dean was third, drawing 18 percent of the vote, behind Kerry and Edwards. Kerry has won 15 of the 17 contests to decide the Democratic nominee to face President George W. Bush in November.

To contact the reporter on this story: William Roberts in Washington 1909 or wroberts@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: February 18, 2004 13:19 EST