Washtenaw County Elections Examiner: Ben Carson quits race before Michigan primary

[neonvincent]

Ben Carson not attending Detroit debate, sees no 'political path forward'

Thursday's Republican debate in Detroit will be missing the one candidate from Detroit. In a statement on his Facebook page posted Wednesday afternoon, neurosurgeon and University of Michigan Medical School alumnus Ben Carson announced that he would not be attending the event.

"I have decided not to attend the Fox News GOP Presidential Debate tomorrow night in Detroit," Carson wrote. "Even though I will not be in my hometown of Detroit on Thursday, I remain deeply committed to my home nation, America. I do not see a political path forward in light of last evening’s Super Tuesday primary results."

Carson stopped short of suspending his campaign in his statement. "However, this grassroots movement on behalf of “We the People” will continue," Carson reassured his Facebook followers. "Along with millions of patriots who have supported my campaign for President, I remain committed to Saving America for Future Generations. We must not depart from our goals to restore what God and our Founders intended for this exceptional nation."

The Detroit Free Press quoted Ohio Governor John Kasich contradicting Carson. "I just had a very, very nice conversation with Dr. Carson, who announced today that he’s suspending his campaign" Kasich said while campaigning in Grand Blanc. "He’s a good man."

Kasich will be one of only four candidates on the stage Thursday night at the Fox Theatre in Detroit. He will join New York real estate magnate Donald Trump and Senators Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas for the debate telecast by Fox News beginning at 9:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time.

According to Carson's statement, money was not a cause of his action. "I appreciate the support, financial and otherwise, from all corners of America," he wrote, referring to the legions of small donors who contributed to his campaign. "Gratefully, my campaign decisions are not constrained by finances; rather by what is in the best interests of the American people."

Carson's decision comes after a long slide in the polls. He led Trump and the rest of the Republican field in September, when he polled at twenty-four percent with Trump two points behind in Michigan. In contrast, the latest poll released Wednesday by WXYZ shows Carson with only eight percent support in the state, tied with Kasich for fourth place.

The poll conducted by EPIC-MRA reports Trump leading the field with twenty-nine percent support. Cruz and Rubio are fighting for second with nineteen and eighteen percent, respectively.

Carson plans to say more about his decision later. "I will discuss more about the future of this movement during my speech on Friday at CPAC in Washington, D.C.," his statement concluded.