Why is Ben Carson polling so well?

[oeoyeleye]

Discuss

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

because people like him.

[RFayette]

because people like him.

[Maxwell]

Because he's not a politician, and in some circles that is very appealing. There doesn't seem to be a fear to say what's on his mind, and that's something else a lot of people really like about him.

There is also definitely a lot of people in the GOP that are very rabidly anti-Obama, to the point where substance doesn't matter. Carson also appeals to that sentiment - he basically began his political identity as an anti-Obama juggernaut.

[Bojack Horseman]

The same reason Herman Cain hung around as long as he did: a total joke candidate who conservatives cling to when they're accused of racially insensitive policies.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

The same reason Herman Cain hung around as long as he did: a total joke candidate who conservatives cling to when they're accused of racially insensitive policies.

He actually is a fairly competent campaigner and reasonably charismatic and intelligent-totally different than Herman Cain. But don't let facts get in the way of your "muh Uncle Toms" circlejerk

[Maxwell]

Beacuse people like his ideas and views. Some like his life experiences and not being a politician

Beyond a couple of pet issues (confederate flag, vaccinations), how is Carson different than any other GOP candidate? I've heard his foreign policy is a little offkilter, but I haven't heard anything specific beyond that characterization.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Wow guys - good to see one person in this thread gets it

[Ebsy]

The 24/7 news cycle has not yet focused on his batsh**t crazy comments. Worry not, if he continues to poll well, he will be summarily destroyed by both the left and the rightwing media.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

The 24/7 news cycle has not yet focused on his batsh**t crazy comments. Worry not, if he continues to poll well, he will be summarily destroyed by both the left and the rightwing media.

Oh, they've focused on the comments plenty. That's why he's polling so high.

[Leinad]

because people like him.

And name recognition. All the other names people know, they know as bland politicians. Once other guys increase their popularity and name recognition, and if he starts making gaffes, he'll drop in the polls before it starts mattering.

Right now he's a legendary neurosurgeon who's publically positioned himself against Obama, the common enemy of both the establishment and conservative voter base. Not sure why he wouldn't be high in the polls.

The 24/7 news cycle has not yet focused on his batsh**t crazy comments. Worry not, if he continues to poll well, he will be summarily destroyed by both the left and the rightwing media.

Indeed. Whoever is leading will be everyone's target, consciously and subconsciously (in that they'll naturally be talked about more, so scandals/gaffes/doubts will be higher profile), so the top few candidates will be put through the test, and like Pawlenty, Cain, Bachmann, and Perry last year, they'll either fizzle out, crash and burn, or completely implode before any real votes are cast next February.