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Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson speaks during a rally Friday, Feb. 19, in Florence, S.C. | AP Photo Carson to stay in race despite poor South Carolina finish

Ben Carson had a message before leaving South Carolina: he’s still running for president.

In a lengthy speech given before even 50 percent of the vote was reported -- but at a time when Carson was projected to finish either last or second-last -- the retired neurosurgeon vowed to stay in the race, which moves now to Nevada.

The speech quickly took a turn toward the philosophical, as Carson said that “people are being easily manipulated and told what they are supposed to think and who they are supposed to follow when in fact we have this tremendous brains with these enormous frontal lobes.”

He added that the “frontal lobes” won’t be used if people listen to the pundits.

“That’s something were going to have to start emphasizing to people,” he said. “I truly believe as time goes on more and more people will begin to get serious.”

He promised to continue in the message and "taking across the nation."

He also tried to distinguish himself as the true outsider in the race, taking a jab at Donald Trump who was declared the winner almost immediately after the polls closed.

“Our nation is very close to going off the cliff and what I am attempting to do as a true outsider. … The fact of the matter is what we need is recognition of the fact that the way our country was designed it was designed for citizen statesman not career politicians,” he said.