Park Gillespie watched as fellow Republicans took their support and money to his likely primary opponent in the 5th Congressional District race to defeat Democratic U.S. Rep. John Spratt.

He complained to the media and party leaders, but state and national GOP figures remained firm in their support of state Rep. Ralph Norman, R-York.

Today, the “American Candidate” will become an ex-candidate.

Gillespie, a former middle school teacher who gained national attention in 2004 when he was selected the “American Candidate” on Showtime’s reality television show, is dropping out.

Gillespie and Norman have scheduled a joint press conference today in Rock Hill, where Gillespie is expected to announce his decision.

Efforts to reach Gillespie were unsuccessful. Norman said Gillespie would endorse him at the event.

The race has drawn increasing national attention — including a visit later this week by Vice President Dick Cheney. Republicans see the district as important in their effort to maintain control of the U.S. House, and Democrats aim to play strong defense.

S.C. GOP chairman Katon Dawson praised Gillespie for “his willingness to serve the public and his steadfast support for conservative principles.”

Gillespie’s “wife, Tammy, and their four daughters were a delight to see on the campaign trail,” Dawson said. “I am proud of the campaign Park ran and look forward to seeing him involved in the conservative cause for many years ahead.”

Gillespie’s announcement would clear the field for Norman two days before Cheney is scheduled to headline a $2,100-per-couple luncheon at the Magnolia Room at Laurel Creek in Rock Hill.

Norman, a Rock Hill real estate developer elected to the S.C. House in 2004, has raised far more money than Gillespie. Through the end of last year, Norman’s campaign had raised $420,429, while Gillespie’s campaign had brought in $54,219 — an almost 8-to-1 fundraising advantage.

Gillespie said last week that he told Dawson he was “disappointed” the party had lent its support to Norman before primary voters cast ballots in June.

“The Republican Party has made a living talking about principle,” the Clover resident said then. “You’re saying you want to have a fair fight, but you’re starting me 50 yards behind the starting line.”

Dawson has acknowledged the party usually refrains from supporting a candidate before the primary, but this year’s race is different.

“John is a longtime, entrenched incumbent,” he said last week. “We saw an opportunity to take that seat, and we heavily recruited Ralph Norman. It’s very hard, when I shake your hand, when I ask you to interrupt your life for a year and say, ‘Let’s go take a chance,’ it’s hard to not support that candidate.”

Dawson said he and others in the party wanted Norman to run because he’s a businessman who has run successfully for office and has political views in line with those held by district voters.

Gillespie said Norman’s wealth was a factor, too. Norman has loaned $75,000 to his campaign.

“They think money is the only thing,” Gillespie said of his fellow Republicans. “He can self-fund his own campaign.”

Norman said state party leaders came to him four to six years ago, before he won a General Assembly seat, and asked him to take on Spratt.

Now that he’s in the race, Norman has benefited from high-level party support.

In addition to Cheney’s visit, President Bush’s top political advisor Karl Rove has come to South Carolina to raise money for Norman. Endorsements have come from Gov. Mark Sanford and U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint.

The campaigns of a dozen incumbent Republicans in Congress have contributed $16,500 to Norman’s campaign. Tens of thousands more have poured in from Republican-leaning political action committees.

GOP positioning in the 2008 race for the White House has helped Norman, too. Potential candidates, including Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Va., have come to South Carolina to bring Norman praise or money or both.

Despite Cheney’s low national poll ratings, he continues to be a major draw for core Republican voters. The same is true of Rove, whose name figured prominently in a CIA leak investigation that, so far, has resulted in the indictment of Cheney’s former chief of staff, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby.

The troubles of Cheney and Rove are not likely to dampen the enthusiasm of 5th District primary voters, said Blease Graham, a USC political science professor.

“But it does leave open the possibility for an incumbent to raise questions about the credentials of those endorsers in the general election.”

Reach Washington at (803) 771-8385. Aaron Gould Sheinin contributed to this report.