Coming off finishes outside the top three in Iowa and New Hampshire, Ben Carson said Wednesday evening that he’s continuing his campaign because he perceives strength in upcoming states.
“I still have millions of supporters on Facebook. We have a lot of people who continue to make donations, and they’re saying please, please, please, please don’t drop out, please stay in, because your strong states are going to be coming up,” he told Sean Hannity. “And I believe that to be the case. I believe you will see a significant improvement right here in South Carolina. The more times we have an opportunity to get in front of audiences and actually explain what our policies are, it makes a huge difference.”
The most recent poll in South Carolina concluded Jan. 23, more than a week before the Iowa caucuses. He was statistically tied for fourth with Jeb Bush in that survey, behind double-figures to frontrunner Donald Trump and Trump’s challenger Ted Cruz. Before the “SEC primary” of Southern states March 1, the GOP nomination contest swings through Nevada Feb. 23. A poll of the Republican electorate there hasn’t been conducted since December.
Carson said his focus is on these future states — but he isn’t thinking long-term, admitting that he only “believes” he will be in the race through the first of March.
“I assess on a day-by-day basis,” he said. “As long as I have the support of ‘We the People’, I will continue to go, particularly with them saying please don’t drop out.
Video below.
