Former Texas Rep. Martin Frost withdraws from DNC chair race.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Maria Recio

WASHINGTON _ Former Democratic Rep. Martin Frost of Dallas ended his long-shot bid Tuesday to become chairman of the Democratic National Committee after it became clear that former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean had an insurmountable lead in the race.

Frost, a moderate who was defeated in November after 26 years in Congress by Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, in a redrawn majority Republican district, hoped to draw centrists and be an alternative to the liberal Dean.

"This campaign was never about me or any other candidate," Frost said in a statement announcing his withdrawal."It was about rebuilding the Democratic Party so that we can …