Democratic tax commissioner candidate Mike Every is leaving the race after news reports detailed that he had been $2,400 behind in child support payments. He called his departure an example of Republican "personal attacks, intimidation and character assassination."

Democrats scrambled Wednesday to recruit a successor. Vern Thompson, the state Democratic director, said he hoped a new candidate could be found in less than a month.

Secretary of State Al Jaeger said North Dakota law does not allow the party to replace Every in the Democratic column, although a Democratic-leaning independent candidacy could be organized.

An independent candidate would need to submit at least 1,000 petition signatures from North Dakota voters by 4 p.m. Sept. 3. Thompson said Democrats will examine the law themselves and may challenge the interpretation of Jaeger, who is a Republican.

Benson County court records show Every, who has a $794 monthly child support obligation, owed about $2,400 in back child support and interest earlier this year. Every, 41, was divorced in 1991 and has since remarried.

Every paid the bill late last month. A hearing had been scheduled Wednesday for Every to explain why he should not be held in contempt of court.

After press reports about his lateness, Every missed some prominent campaign events, including a July 2 Democratic fund-raiser in Bismarck and a Fourth of July parade in Mandan that candidates for statewide office almost always put on their schedules.

The reports "have caused me to reconsider my dedication to this campaign," Every said in a statement Wednesday. "As a father and husband, my family is, and has always been, my first consideration. For that reason, I am withdrawing from this race."

He said Republicans were responsible for the child-support disclosures.

"I was attacked after I met my obligation, not when I fell behind," he said. "Everyone should understand that although I made a mistake, that in no way justifies the depths to which my Republican attackers have sunk in order to win this race."

Jason Stverak, the state Republican director, said Every was shifting blame.

"A politician would naturally make these baseless charges to divert attention away from their own mistakes," Stverak said. "The bottom line is that (Every) has been late, chronically late, with his child support payments."

Every had been running against Republican Rick Clayburgh, who is seeking his third term. Clayburgh said his campaign has not focused on personal matters.

"As far as our campaign is concerned, my focus is what we've done in the Tax Department for the past eight years," Clayburgh said.

Some Democrats have speculated that Heidi Heitkamp, a former tax commissioner and attorney general who lost a 2000 race for governor, could step into the race.

With rumors circulating earlier about a possible Every withdrawal, Heitkamp said earlier this month that she had not been approached about the possibility of running. She could not be reached immediately for comment.