Trump and Carson have the non-establishment vote and organic support, due to their confronting the mainstream, not backing down, and prioritizing cultural issues. Rubio, Bush, Cruz, Kasich and Christie have establishment money and endorsements, there is no reason for them to suspend their candidacies until well into the spring. Rand has the best record and positions, but has not made inroads with non-establishment voters, nor with the cultural right, nor with the Tea party, nor with the FOXnews-influenced rank and file GOP.
The above is not a high-percentage recipe for a liberty campaign victory in IA and NH. It looks like the 5 main establishment backed candidates will all stay in through the February races at least, and it looks like Carson and Cruz will split the evangelical vote in IA. Unless Rand engineers a huge youth and independent turnout come Iowa, and/or inspires the TP, social right and anti-establishment voters, he stands to place no higher than 3rd or 4th in Iowa at this point, and the same for NH.