Former Rep. Ed Case stunned the state Democratic convention this morning by saying he was pulling out of the race.

“;My heart tells me to stay in this fight, but my head says this has become the wrong fight. So today I'm withdrawing my candidacy for the U. S. House of Representatives from Hawai‘i's great First District for the upcoming 112th Congress (2011-2012).”;

“;To our ‘ohana, I am so deeply grateful to each and all of you. We have shared the dream of a better way forward for our Hawai‘i and country and worked so hard together to achieve it,”; Case said.

In an email to his supporters released as he addressed the convention, Case said he would now consider his future political plans.

“;As for my own plans, our return to our formative years reconfirmed that service has been and always will be central to my very being. So the question is not whether but when, where and how I can best continue to serve, and I know that path will emerge in its own time,”; Case said.

After the announcement, newly-elected party chairman, Dante Carpenter said “;That's a man with class.”;

Speaking to the crowd, Sen. Dan Inouye said “;I was deeply moved by Ed Case, he showed he was a Democrat.”;

Democrats in the room reacted with an emotional display of shouts and clapping.

For her part, Case's former rival, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, said Case's warning for the party to accept change was “;well taken.”;