Swett to dropout of US Senate race

Democratic US Senate candidate Katrina Swett will announce she is ending her campaign on Friday to support former Governor Jeanne Shaheen's newly formed bid to defeat freshman Republican Senator John E. Sununu, the Globe has learned.

Swett will hold a press conference Friday morning in Concord, exactly one week after Shaheen entered the race.

Swett, a former Congressional candidate, raised $1.2 million for the effort.

She becomes the second candidate to drop out after Shaheen entered the race. On Saturday Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand ended his campaign and endorsed Shaheen.

Shaheen will face a Democratic primary, however. Former astronaut Jay Buckey, of Hanover, said he will remain in the race.