He hasn’t qualified for the upcoming debates, trails badly in polls and doesn’t have the money and resources to run a national campaign.

Why is Julián Castro still in the race for president?

“I’m offering a vision for the future of this country that is different from any other candidate,” Castro said last week on Lone Star Politics, a political show produced by KXAS (NBC 5) and The Dallas Morning News. “I’m the candidate speaking out for the most vulnerable people in our country."

In most cases such an uphill climb would be a waste of time, but it’s important that Castro remain in the presidential contest as long as his dignity allows. His candidacy is now not about winning the nomination, but the need to hear the voice of the lone Hispanic presidential contender in a party that’s supposed to be about inclusion and diversity.

Castro, the former San Antonio mayor and former Secretary of Housing under President Barack Obama, has been a voice for issues often on the back-burner of our political discourse. They include curbing police violence and combating homelessness. His personal story, the son of a dynamic mother, Rosie Castro, of the Mexican-American civil rights movement, and grandson of a woman who crossed the southern border without authorization, enhances the discussion of issues related to immigration, poverty and education.

“I’ve given a voice to a lot of issues that other candidates haven’t,” he said. “I’m going to stay in the race.”

There are political reasons for Castro to hang around. The longer he stays in the contest, the better the chance of him becoming a candidate for vice president. He’ll also be in the mix for a major cabinet position if the Democrats win the White House from President Donald Trump.

Running for president is like a marathon. Finishing is not only gratifying, but a victory of sorts.

Yes, there are reasons for Castro to end his underdog bid.

Being excluded from debates threaten to cast him into obscurity. He’ll be out of sight and out of the minds of most voters. And if he can’t raise enough money for organizational purposes, pulling the plug is a humane option.

Castro hopes to exceed expectations in Iowa and win in Nevada, two early contest states where he’s mired at the bottom of the polls. The Texas primary is in March, and he’ll certainly get some delegates from his home turf.

It’s a dream scenario that’s extremely unlikely, but worth the effort.

Castro should keep up the fight. He’s blazing a trail, even if it feels like a waste of time.