Ben Carson doubled down on his threat to leave the Republican Party if the primary ends in a brokered convention, which would allow party leaders to select a nominee other than the one selected by voters.
“If that is the case, I’m out of here,” Carson said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”
The retired neurosurgeon said Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, had assured him the back-door meeting, which touched off reports GOP leaders are discussing brokered convention, was just a “routine” gathering.
Carson shrugged off recent polls that showed his standing in Iowa slipping as Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, siphons support from his campaign.
“Poll numbers go up and down,” Carson said. “This is a very fluid contest.”
Carson said he did not agree with Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to prevent all Muslims from entering the country on a temporary basis, but he said he backs the principle of the policy.
“I understand the concept of not letting people in until they are well-screened,” Carson said. “I just wouldn’t do it on the basis of religion.”
