Romeo Saganash has bowed out of the NDP leadership race.

The MP made the announcement Friday in his riding of Val d'Or, Que.

Saganash recently missed riding association debates due to an illness in his family and his campaign failed to raise much money.

"My mother, sisters and brothers and my children all need more attention than I have been able to provide," Saganash said. "I am unable to devote enough time to them, my constituents or my party and run the kind of campaign that I would like to run."

The NDP recently released figures that indicated Saganash's team had only raised $17,552 from September to December.

Other NDP leadership candidates include former party president Brian Topp; MPs Thomas Mulcair, Peggy Nash, Paul Dewar, Nathan Cullen and Niki Ashton; and Nova Scotia businessman Martin Singh.

Saganash says he will eventually endorse one of the other candidates.

"I will endorse whichever candidate can best move the vision forward that I have for our party," Saganash said. "Building on the support we have gained in Quebec, reaching out to rural and suburban voters, and engaging the 40% of Canadians who did not vote in the last election will all be important steps for the next leader."

Kristy.Kirkup@sunmedia.ca

On Twitter:@kkirkup