Fiorina exits presidential race following sluggish NH primary performance

Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina announced Wednesday afternoon that she is suspending her campaign following a seventh-place showing in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday.

Fiorina, 61, was excluded from last week’s presidential debate, and her poor performance in New Hampshire was not surprising. Fiorina had 6 percent of the vote, only beating out Ben Carson.

Fiorina is one of two candidates dropping out of the race following yesterday's primary. N.J. Gov. Chris Christie is also expected to suspend his campaign following his sixth-place showing.

“This campaign was always about citizenship—taking back our country from a political class that only serves the big, the powerful, the wealthy, and the well connected,” Fiorina said in a statement. “While I suspend my candidacy today, I will continue to travel this country and fight for those Americans who refuse to settle for the way things are and a status quo that no longer works for them.”

She served as Hewlett-Packard’s CEO from 1999-2005. After stepping down from HP, Fiorina became more politically active. She helped Arizona Sen. John McCain in his run to the GOP nomination in 2008.

Fiorina’s first run at political office was in 2010 when she ran for the California’s U.S. Senate seat. She lost the election to Democrat Barbara Boxer by a 52-42 margin. 

The South Carolina primary will have six remaining candidates: Donald Trump, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Carson. South Carolina holds its GOP primary on Feb. 20.

Justin Boggs is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @jjboggs.