A FORMER Oxford resident in the running to be the Democratic nominee for US president has dropped out of the race.

Pete Buttigieg, who went to Oxford University, rose from relative obscurity as a mayor in Indiana to a barrier-breaking, top-tier candidate.

The decision by the first openly gay candidate to seriously contend for the presidency came on Sunday, just a day after leading rival Joe Biden scored a resounding victory in South Carolina.

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That sparked new pressure on the party's moderate wing to coalesce behind the former vice president.

The 38-year-old, won a Rhodes Scholarship grant to study at Oxford University in 2004.

Oxford Mail: Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, right, hugs his husband, Chasten Buttigieg, before ending his presidential campaign during a speech to supporters, Sunday, in South Bend, Indiana. Picture: Michael Caterina/South Bend Tribune via APFormer South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, right, hugs his husband, Chasten Buttigieg, before ending his presidential campaign during a speech to supporters, Sunday, in South Bend, Indiana. Picture: Michael Caterina/South Bend Tribune via AP

Having studied history and literature at Harvard University, he came to Oxford to enrol on the famous philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE) course which has long been a favourite of future politicians.

He was a member of Pembroke College, and during his time at Oxford became an editor of the Oxford International Review magazine.

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He was also a co-founder and member of the Democratic Renaissance Project, 'an informal debate and discussion group of about a dozen Oxford students'.

In 2007, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree with first-class honours in PPE and moved back to the states to take a job as a consultant at the Chicago office of management consultancy firm McKinsey & Company.

Mr Buttigieg told supporters in South Bend, Indiana: "The truth is the path has narrowed to a close for our candidacy if not for our cause.

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"We must recognise that at this point in the race, the best way to keep faith with those goals and ideals is to step aside and help bring our party and country together."

He did not endorse any of his former rivals, though he and Mr Biden exchanged voicemails on Sunday.

Oxford Mail: Vice President Joe Biden. Picture: AP Photo/Steve HelberVice President Joe Biden. Picture: AP Photo/Steve Helber

Mr Buttigieg has spent the past few weeks warning that nominating progressive leader Bernie Sanders to take on President Donald Trump would be risky.

Despite gaining a top finish in the Iowa caucuses and a close second place in New Hampshire as the race moved to more diverse states, less dependent on college-educated voters, Mr Buttigieg struggled.