This article is more than 2 years old.

February 2, 2016 This article is more than 2 years old.

Contrary to media reports, Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon and one-time top contender for the Republican presidential nomination, will not be skipping the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries. According to his communications director, Larry Ross, the doctor is simply jetting off to his home state of Maryland to retrieve a “fresh set of clothes.”

The press release, which notes Carson has spent 18 consecutive days on the campaign trail, was a source of amusement among political commentators convering tonight’s (Feb. 1) caucuses in Iowa:

Carson came in fourth in the Iowa Republican caucus, behind Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, and Marco Rubio, with 9% of the vote.