Alan Alda, left, and Jimmy Smits vacating office.

PASADENA, CA -- Like that other election, the one on The West Wing looks too close to call. But NBC has made a call on the show's future: Its final episode will air May 14.

"There's a point when you look at the ratings and say, it feels like it's time," NBC entertainment president Kevin Reilly told critics yesterday.

The seven-year-old series won four straight Best Drama Emmys, but struggled this season when it was moved to Sundays. The network plans to conclude the drama with a one-hour retrospective followed by an hour-long series finale.

Despite efforts by executive producer John Wells to reinvigorate The West Wing after the departure of original showrunner Aaron Sorkin, ratings continued to decline. "We wanted to send the show off with dignity," said Reilly.

The recent death of series regular John Spencer was not a factor in his decision, said Reilly, who gave no hint on how the series will end or who will win the White House -- Democrat Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) or Republican Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda).