Ben Carson told supporters on Wednesday afternoon that he doesn't see a "path forward" for his presidential campaign and will not attend the GOP debate Thursday night.

Carson did not mention formally suspending his campaign in a statement, but he will discuss his political future Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

ADVERTISEMENT

The retired neurosurgeon insisted on Tuesday night that he was "not ready to quit" despite a poor showing in Super Tuesday states.

Carson, a star in conservative circles who became well-known after criticizing President Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2013, was once a front-runner in the GOP field. He was the only candidate to overtake Trump in national polls, outperforming the billionaire last October.

But Carson failed to keep up in a fast-moving Republican race dominated by Trump's brash personality and harsh rhetoric.

Carson, who stumbled on foreign policy, also struggled to stand out in a series of debates.

Updated at 3:06 p.m.

Read Carson's entire statement to supporters below:

I have decided not to attend the Fox News GOP Presidential Debate tomorrow night in Detroit. Even though I will not be in my hometown of Detroit on Thursday, I remain deeply committed to my home nation, America. I do not see a political path forward in light of last evening’s Super Tuesday primary results. However, this grassroots movement on behalf of “We the People” will continue. Along with millions of patriots who have supported my campaign for President, I remain committed to Saving America for Future Generations. We must not depart from our goals to restore what God and our Founders intended for this exceptional nation.

I appreciate the support, financial and otherwise, from all corners of America. Gratefully, my campaign decisions are not constrained by finances; rather by what is in the best interests of the American people.

I will discuss more about the future of this movement during my speech on Friday at CPAC in Washington, D.C.