Liz Cheney plans to exit Wyoming Senate race

Liz Cheney has signaled to allies that she is preparing to drop her bid for the United States Senate and may announce as soon as this week that she plans to focus on issues related to her family, sources told POLITICO Sunday.

Two GOP sources said that a problematic recent incident involving a close member of Cheney's family prompted her to reconsider the race, among other factors.

Cheney announced a primary challenge to Wyoming GOP Sen. Mike Enzi last July and raised more than a million dollars for her campaign, largely from Republican elites close to her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney. She has consistently trailed Enzi in public polling.

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Cheney and her spokeswoman did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Cheney finance chair Margaret Parry was noncommittal in a short phone call.

'That's a very personal issue and I think that you need to get a hold of Liz Cheney,' she said.

Republicans - including some Cheney supporters - privately expressed surprise at Cheney's move, though she is also said to have been discouraged by Enzi's persistent polling lead and apparent determination to buck pressure to retire.

CNN first reported the news of Cheney's plans.

Maggie Haberman contributed to this report.