Trump: Carson is 'finished' in GOP race

By Al Weaver, Al Weaver

Published December 20, 2015

Dr. Ben Carson has lost his front-runner status for the Republican nomination, and now Donald Trump believes the game is over for the former neurosurgeon.

"I think he's a very nice man. I like him very much," Trump said on "Morning Joe." "Yes, I do think he's finished as a nominee."

Trump, who sits second in the Washington Examiner's presidential power rankings, made the comment during a series of questions from co-host Joe Scarborough on his standing within the GOP field. The statement comes on the heels of two polls out of Iowa showing Carson to be falling significantly amongst caucus-goers in the Hawkeye State.

In the latest Monmouth poll released Monday, Carson's support overall dropped 19 percentage points, from 32 to 13 percent, in a little more than a month. In addition, the CNN poll showed Carson dropping from 23 to 16 percent.