Theres something endearingly earnest about former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee (D), who all but faded into the background during Tuesday nights Democratic presidential debate. But with only $392,000 raised for his campaign and polling numbers hovering at 1 percent, its clear hes not going to be the Democratic nominee.

CNNs Wolf Blitzer asked Chafee point blank: When are you going to admit defeat?

Heres what worries me, Blitzer said on his program Wednesday. Because of your distinguished career, youre going to wind up looking silly if you keep going on. At what point will you decide, You know what, there are other things for me to do instead of a futile effort to try to get the Democratic nomination?'

Chafee defended his decision to stay in the race and attributed his lack of speaking time at the debate to the establishment's support of the Iraq War, which he opposed.

The establishment does not want to hear an antiwar voice, Chaffee said. But these issues are important and Ill continue to raise them.

When Blitzer pointed out that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) was also a strong opponent of the war, Chafee said the Vermont senator is primarily focused on domestic issues. I've been to many events with Senator Sanders and he rarely talks about international issues, Chaffee said.