Will the GOP establishment eventually back Carson over Trump?

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

I think it's possible, if these two candidates are still in the lead by February.

[Torie]

Absolutely, if Carson can demonstrate a mastery of the issues, and defend his positions well. But I doubt that will be happening.

[dudeabides]

Ben Carson is calm, sensible, and he can work well with others. He has literally performed miracles, he has a great story to tell, and he is a true role-model. Absolutely they'd back him over Trump.

[°Leprechaun]

I say "no", but I could be wrong. He has some pretty far right views.

[7,052,770]

Ben Carson is calm, sensible, and he can work well with others. He has literally performed miracles, he has a great story to tell, and he is a true role-model. Absolutely they'd back him over Trump.

Sorry, but "calm, sensible" people don't compare Obamacare to slavery, nor do they make outrageously bigoted comments about gays like Carson did. The guy's an unhinged nutjob.

[Phony Moderate]

Yes, and he'll lose.

[Bismarck]

Trump doesn't support free trade. GOP establishment will support anybody over Trump this is a dealbreaker issue for them and i'm honestly surprised the other candidates aren't attacking Trump on this.

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

Trump doesn't support free trade. GOP establishment will support anybody over Trump this is a dealbreaker issue for them and i'm honestly surprised the other candidates aren't attacking Trump on this.

The rest of the field is not jumping on Trump because the rest of the field knows that it's our Free Trade agreements that are a deal-breaker with a large segment of the rank and file in the GOP.  Not a majority, but a large minority.  Trump's campaign has, I believe, brought this out into the open, and he's put the "free trade" issue back on the table for the GOP.

The GOP base is far more nationalistic than the norm, and many of them have viewed our trade deals as something we get the short end on.  Because these folks agree with the bulk of the GOP platform, they still self-identify as Republicans, but they aren't real happy with our getting hosed in trade deals.  Many of these folks left the GOP for Perot, and not all have come back.  The GOP needs them back.