Rumors swirled on social media that Dr. Ben Carson could be on his way to dropping out of the Republican presidential contest, after it was reported he was canceling hundreds-of-thousands of dollars in ads in Iowa and South Carolina.
Nick Ryan, president of the American Future Fund, tweeted that Carson apparently canceled a huge number of TV ads in early primary states, including $343,000 in Iowa alone.
Recommended Stories
Ben Carson’s campaign is canceling TV in huge numbers in IA & SC. In IA so far, $343k canceled.
— Nick Ryan (@NicholasTRyan) December 8, 2015
Immediately rumors swirled that Carson was preparing to drop out, especially after his poll numbers had slipped by nearly 50 percent in late October according to Real Clear Politics.
Supporters and critics alike thought that the retired neurosurgeon had gone spent through the more than $31 million his campaign raised.
@NicholasTRyan Out of bucks? Fearing debt as Walker did? @marcorubio stands to gain, yes? Is that what is Krakatoa-like @ChrisStirewalt ?
— Hauser Klenck (@howzitmann) December 8, 2015
@NicholasTRyan @EarlyGirlSC Throwing in the.towel?
— Preston Brooks (@Rebel_Bill) December 8, 2015
@NicholasTRyan @goldietaylor He is clearly done and over with. Exit Carson.
— Tanya (@DutchDelights13) December 8, 2015
It turns out though the reason behind the cancellation is that Carson is preparing to launch more than a million dollars in new ads in the Hawkeye State.
Jennifer Jacobs of the Des Moines Register reported that the Carson camp is just changing its Iowa TV ad buys. The campaign added $1 million to Iowa starting Tuesday.
Ben Carson camp tells me it’s just changing its Iowa TV ad buys.Yes, canceled some. But added $1 million to Iowa starting today.
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) December 8, 2015
Carson is certainly down — but not out.
