Posted on 02/10/2016 12:32:09 PM PST by drewh
Ohio Gov. John Kasich seized second place in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday evening, in a race Donald Trump had dominated since the fall.
But others had also spent time in the second place slot behind Trump, including former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina after her strong undercard debate performance in September; and Dr. Ben Carson, who was in second for much of the autumn, but finished in last place on Tuesday evening.
What happened? A look at the RealClearPolitics averages allows us to pinpoint the exact moment when Carson began to fade, never to recover: Nov. 13, 2015.
That was the day that Islamic State terrorists carried out bloody attacks across Paris, killing dozens and wounding hundreds. Suddenly, foreign policy was thrust to the forefront, along with Second Amendment rights, and Americans began looking for strong leadership in its candidates.
When Paris caused Carson to dip, the media–or the Carson campaign’s management of it–ensured that his dip became a permanent decline. On Nov. 17, the New York Times published an article about Carson’s efforts to master foreign policy, which included this devastating paragraph:
“Nobody has been able to sit down with him and have him get one iota of intelligent information about the Middle East,†said Duane R. Clarridge, a top adviser to Mr. Carson on terrorism and national security. He also said Mr. Carson needed weekly conference calls briefing him on foreign policy so “we can make him smart.â€
Driving the point home, the Times added: “As the deadly assaults in Paris claimed by the Islamic State reframe the presidential race, the candidates’ foreign policy credentials are suddenly under scrutiny.â€
Carson would never recover in New Hampshire–or nationwide, where he had led the polls just a week before.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
A decent man who was in over his head.
I think there is a position for in a Republican cabinet. Secretary of Health and Human Services, or as Surgeon General.
A do-nothing job like Surgeon General is beneath Dr. Carson’s abilities.
I count this as another, media-expert “know it all” analysis.
just like the reason Nixon lost the 1960 election was because he had too much makeup on during his TV debate with Kennedy.
Wouldn’t have anything to do with Kennedy bribery and ballot-box stuffing in Illinois, would it?
I know American voters can sometimes be really shallow and stupid (yes, many believed “HOPE AND CHANGE”) but are these particular minutiae really the reasons candidates lose?
I have it from reliable sources here that it was Team Cruz who stole all his voters in Iowa that doomed him.
I never believed Carson had any support.
I believe people were using him as a temporary (safe) placeholder while making up their minds about Trump.
“A do-nothing job like Surgeon General is beneath Dr. Carson’s abilities.”
Agreed. I hope Trump picks him for VP.
Unstoppable.
not Sunk
It didn’t really help that Carson spent all his time on tv networks crying about Ted Cruz instead of actually campaigning in New Hampshire. So it makes sense that he came in last place there.
Cruz told the absolute truth to the voters of Iowa. Carson dropped out. He has gotten used to the attention and private jets though.
“Agreed. I hope Trump picks him for VP.”
Oh yes, an opportunist blowhard with psychological problems picking a nice man without a clue other than his specific field. Terrific.
I hope whoever wins uses his talents to do just that.
Are you a psychologist? Have you examined Donald Trump?
He’s our next president, you know. How honored you must be.
While this may be an accurate observation, it is clearer that it caused the collapse of Rand Paul’s candidacy too.
haha
Paris?
Maybe a little. But, I still think his wacky childhood stabbing story was mostly to blame.
Yeah, but you get that neat vice-admiral USPHS set of blues!
He's retired, correct?
Therefore, Surgeon General would be perfect, IMHO.
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