The presidential bid being carried out by Tim Ryan for the last few months has generated quite a buzz.

Since traveling to New York City to announce his bid in April on national television, the longtime congressman now has appeared on stage in two national Presidential Democratic primary debates staged in Miami and Detroit. He has campaigned in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Iowa, not to mention his home state of Ohio.

Perhaps Ryan’s best effort in the national spotlight came during Tuesday’s debate when he went to bat against fellow candidate U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont over Sanders’ “Medicare for All” plan that Ryan argued would send a message to all union members who sacrificed wages in exchange for good health care that they couldn’t keep it.

During the debate, Ryan also took a stance against what he called “incentivizing” undocumented immigrants to come into the U.S. illegally with free health care. Ryan pointed out many Americans pay for their health care coverage, and undocumented immigrants should, too.

Ryan said he would support policies aimed at working-class issues.

It’s unfortunate that his logical stance on some of the issues discussed at Tuesday’s debate became overshadowed on social media and national television by Ryan’s failure to put his hand on his heart – as all the other candidates did – during the national anthem prior to the start of the televised event. Ryan’s campaign later issued a statement saying the incident should not be interpreted as a form of protest or statement. Rather, the campaign said it came in “a moment of absent-mindedness while on a debate stage that won’t happen again.”

The fact is, however, Ryan’s good efforts seem to be coming too late.

It now appears very likely that Tuesday’s debate was Ryan’s last – in this presidential race, at least.

We credit Ryan for his tenacity and drive and for making a valiant effort, but we suggest it now is time for him to step away from the presidential bid and return to the important tasks that need his full attention in the U.S. Congress.

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