This might explain why Ben Carson is “pausing” his campaign, rather than suspending it outright. Might it be a case of “one hand washes the other” with the GOP?
GOP operatives told CNN early Wednesday morning that they’ll push Ben Carson to drop out of the Republican presidential race, and instead run for a U.S. Senate seat from Florida.
It’s unclear how receptive the retired neurosurgeon will be to their pleas. Carson did not appear to be going anywhere as Tuesday night drew to a close.
Sen. Marco Rubio, who’s [sic] seat is up, has said he will not seek re-election.
Carson continues to show no signs of getting out of the race.
Until today:
I have decided not to attend the Fox News GOP Presidential Debate tomorrow night in Detroit. 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. However, this grassroots movement on behalf of “We the People” will continue. 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.
I appreciate the support, financial and otherwise, from all corners of America. Gratefully, my campaign decisions are not constrained by finances; rather by what is in the best interests of the American people.
I will discuss more about the future of this movement during my speech on Friday at CPAC in Washington, D.C.
Curiouser and curiouser.
Stella's Place 
This sounds more like the establishment have thrown their hat in the ring for Cruz rather than Rubio. The question is what will the anti-establishment Cruz voters do? I honestly feel sorry for Cruz supporters, many of them have put a lot of faith in Cruz and are being screwed by him.
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Carson and Rubio are both from Florida. Maybe their thinking is that Rubio will pick up Carson’s voters. Florida is a winner-take-all state, and there are 99 delegates.
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I would think Carson voters would switch to Cruz and few Trump, most of them are very religious and/or anti-establishment. Plus Republican voters in Florida feel betrayed by Rubio.
I have a hard time seeing them going to Rubio unless of course they’re blind followers who will vote for whom Carson tells them to.
I could certainly be wrong though, I didn’t think Cruz would win Oklahoma.
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I don’t know, michellc, but it’s interesting.
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Here are the latest Florida polls. What do you think?
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If the polls are accurate I don’t see Carson dropping out really helping either of them.
I just know from reading around on the internet a lot of Carson voters do not like Rubio, but then many don’t like Cruz either. I’ve probably read more who like Trump more than either of those two.
I know Carson has said he’s been getting offers to drop out and it does sound like he took somebody up on their offer.
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I’m wondering if Rubio is being forced out too. Maybe they plan to insert Romney? Is that even possible at this point?
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I honestly do not know, but I don’t see how they could put his name on the ballot now. Listening to the MSNBC video it sounds to me like they’re plan is to do everything possible to keep Trump from getting the needed delegates and then installing Romney at the convention.
I just can’t wrap my head around how Carson helps them with that.
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More:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/2/ben-carson-be-asked-drop-out-run-florida-senate-se/
ADD:
The party establishment wants at all costs to avoid a Donald Trump nomination, and it sees a smaller field of challengers as a means to that end.
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Did you see this? I’m very confused.
His campaign manager Armstrong Williams told reporters, “It’s just the reality that there’s only one candidate in this 2016 election on the GOP side, and his name is Trump.”
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/03/dr-ben-carson-to-skip-fox-news-debate-in-detroit/
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I did see it.
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There is something going on, and I wish I knew what it is.
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Me too.
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Great post, Stella. So if my arithmetic is correct, Trump has 5 of the 8 states needed for the >50% of delegates rule? South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee. Missed New Hampshire by 1 delegate and Nevada by 2. And what happens to Carson’s and Kasich’s delegates when they get out?
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That’s right – he has the five of the eight states that he needs. I don’t know what happens to the delegates, but I imagine it is up to the states in question. Kasich has 25, and Carson has 8, I think. There are also the ones for the other candidates who dropped out.
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