What would the GOP establishment do if it came down to Trump vs. Carson?

[President Johnson]

Which candidate would be finally backed by the establishment if it really came down to The Donald and Carson?

[BlueSwan]

Which candidate would be finally backed by the establishment if it really came down to The Donald and Carson?

Carson, because he can likely be controlled, Trump likely cannot.

[Torie]

Not that I am really Pub establishment, but my inclination would be to sit it out. Neither gentleman is fit to be POTUS.

[Kingpoleon]

Easy Carson.

[Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy]

Easy Carson.

[dudeabides]

Ben Carson because he's smarter, more articulate, and can work with all elements of the party.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Carson, but Trump will be nominee despite his shortcomings on immigration.

[Sir Mohamed]

None, they'll try to get Mitt into the race.

[Angel of Death]

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=221865

[dudeabides]

None, they'll try to get Mitt into the race.

Mitt Romney                                           Ben Carson                    Donald Trump
For Across-the-board tax cuts                  For a flat tax                  For tax cuts
Cut taxes 19 times                                  Doctor                           For a $5.7 trillion wealth tax
For a cut,cap, and balance approach         No plan                         For "investing"
Against Obama's stimulus scheme            No stance                      For Obama's stimulus scheme
For free trade                                         No stance                      Protectionist
Pro-life Governor & candidate since '04     Pro-life                          Refused to back partial-birth abortion ban
Against Obamacare                                 Against Obamacare        For socialized medicine
For border security                                 ?                                   For a Wall, Mexico will pay for it
Against direct talks with terrorists            ?                                   For direct talks with terrorists
Against Putin                                          ?                                   For Putin
Married for 4 decades                             Married for 40 years        Divorced twice, married model who married him for wealth
Accomplished businessman                     Genius physician             Took over Daddy's business

[Ljube]

Carson, but Trump will be nominee despite his shortcomings on immigration.

In light of Paris attacks, those are not shortcomings.

[Vosem]

It cannot come down to Trump vs. Carson, because the GOP establishment continues to maintain enough support that they would keep a third candidate in the race, in hopes of preventing either main candidate from reaching 50% and throwing the race to the convention. While it is unlikely, Trump or Carson can win outright, but there are enough sections of the party that feel not merely no allegiance to either but strong distaste for both that this is a scenario that will actually never happen. There would be another candidate. The candidate might trail Trump or Carson, but he (or she, but very probably he) would stay in.