If you're polling at 0% or 1% or 2%, wouldn't you get out of the race at this point?

[Yavin4]

Just to save yourself, and your family, the embarrassment?

[SoCalNative]

1. Far too much $$$$ still to be made

that you don't have to pay back

[daleanime]

4. +1

[brooklynite]

2. All together now: "the only poll that counts in the one on election day".

Besides, most of these folks don't have anything better to do.

[Cry]

6. "the only poll that counts in the one on election day"

Besides, most of these folks don't have anything better to do.

[Armstead]

3. Book Tours, Speaking tours

[underpants]

5. Yeah, you're feeling the heat from Gilmore

Here he comes. The energy is undeniable.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

11. Ready for the Gravelanche! nt

[underpants]

13. Jim'mentum! GilMORE!!

[abelenkpe]

7. And give up campaign donations?

Cmon everyone knows it's all about the money. What's morals, ethics, embarrassment next to sweet sweet cash?


Do I have to mention

[Yavin4]

22. But these guys are getting ZERO. I can get zero. Give me some cash.

Hell, everyone on DU could get zero.

[sufrommich]

8. I'm not sure too many would quit this far out. nt

[Ken Burch]

9. For some of the GOP'ers, the campaign is more about auditioning for a show on Fox.

That, and right-wing people don't do "I was wrong".

Look at how many of them STILL think we should have stayed in Vietnam(even though some of them were in preschool when the troops came home).

[Journeyman]

10. I suspect, event those at such low numbers, are still pulling in some amount of cash . . .

that'd keep them there, for no other reason than building funds for their next run at their day job.

I imagine, too, that hope springs eternal for them -- they hope the frontrunners will stumble and they may gain in the wake. Look at Fiorina: Went from second team debate squad to first tier based on nothing more than nothing, a "perception" that she had done better than those she wasn't even on the stage with and never got to confront.

And too, I suspect that each of them hopes to influence the ongoing debate and draw the conversation towards their favored ideas.

Finally, some may be trying to position themselves for either a VP pick, a spot in the new administration (hoping against hope a Republican may win), or trying to place themselves in a manner that they'll have a better shot next election.

Or it could just be pure ego and delusion. Take your pick.

[Xipe Totec]

12. They are still in Denali. nt

[Renew Deal]

14. I was thinking the same thing

Doesn't Graham have anything better to do?

[tritsofme]

17. No, these types of candidates are running to promote themselves

Not to actually be president. They are looking for book deals and future WH gigs.

[el_bryanto]

18. I wouldn't, assuming I had the money to run in the first place.

At least attend a debate or two. Get on TV. See if you can reach the people.

And if nothing else, well, you got to be on TV.

Bryant

[livetohike]

19. Their egos won't allow it, especially if money keeps pouring into the campaign. I can't see all 17

GOP candidates staying in until Iowa. At some point the donors have to be pulling back.

[Zorra]

20. They are probably hoping for a boost when Clinton drops out of the race.

I believe O'Malley could provide some competition for Bernie at that time.

[ram2008]

21. Depends on where you stand

If you're at horrible favorability, are not raising money, and aren't really bringing something special to the table that's already there then you should probably leave the race.

In my view, that would mean Chafee should get out of the race on the Democratic side, and Gilmore, Pataki, Graham and probably Perry on the Republican side.

[PowerToThePeople]

23. And when will they stop polling for people not even running? n/t