Ben Carson Suspends 2016 Campaign at CPAC

MAR 4 2016, 5:30 PM ET

Ben Carson Suspends 2016 Campaign at CPAC

by ANDREW RAFFERTY

Ben Carson announced Friday he is "leaving the campaign trail" after a string of disappointing finishes in the Republican presidential nominating contests.
The announcement, made during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference taking place outside Washington, D.C., was expected after Carson released a statement saying he does "not see a political path forward" after the Super Tuesday contests. He did not participate in Thursday's GOP debate in Michigan.

Carson received a standing ovation after making the announcement, and promised he would still be "heavily involved in trying to save the nation."

Ahead of Carson's speech Friday, he was announced as the chair of My Faith Votes, a group aimed at motivating Christians to get to the ballot box.

The former pediatric neurosurgeon surged in the polls last fall, even leading the once crowded GOP field in Iowa. But his soft demeanor and questions about his foreign policy expertise made him an easy target both of his Republican rivals and late-night comics.

Carson ended up finishing fourth in the Hawkeye State and earned just eight delegates in the first 15 GOP nominating contests.

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016...n-cpac-n532056