Ben Carson surges past Jeb Bush to No. 2 spot as Republicans embrace outsiders

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson has surged to the No. 2 spot in the GOP field, overtaking former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and, combined with front-running businessman Donald Trump, gives outsiders a firm grip atop the Republican presidential race.

Combined, the two men have 40 percent of the vote in the latest Quinnipiac University Poll. Add in businesswoman Carly Fiorina’s 5 percent, and nearly half of Republicans say their No. 1 choice for president is someone who has never won a public election.

“He’s the safe rebel,” said Michael McKenna, a GOP strategist and pollster.

Despite a debate performance that garnered solid but not overwhelming praise, and an August devoid of high-profile television feuds that much of the rest of the GOP is engaged in, Mr. Carson overtook Mr. Bush in the RealClearPolitics.com average of polls as of Thursday.

They’re also not counting Cruz as an outsider. Add up Trump, Carson, and Cruz and in some polls it’s a majority.

In a brokered convention, hopefully these three would do the right thing and send their delegates to the one of them that has the most delegates.

The only thing that amazes me is the arrogance of the Republican Party in lying to its' base and making itself a feckless opponent to Democrats. They stand for nothing, self destruct when given control, fail miserably at accomplishing what they were elected to do, then wonder why outsiders are wiping up the floor with their anointed ones. We are well past the time to promote term limits and citizen legislators as opposed to career politicians who build up wealth for themselves and their cronies.

“He’s the safe rebel,” said Michael McKenna, a GOP strategist and pollster.

This is not a good pat on the back for Carson. Carson is a smart and seems to be a moral guy. But he knows little about politics having been a neurosurgeon most of his adult life. I have a nephew who is a neurosurgeon and I know he does not have the time to do much reading and listening or surfing for news. He does not understand the construction and nuances of political ideology and debate. He’s mostly only heard liberal slogans.

Carson will be easily fooled by GOPe because he does not know any better and means well. That is what the GOP consultant means here. He’s probably taken a lot of his money from GOPe. Mitch McConnell even got by Cruz via lying to him...and Cruz is very experienced in politics.

Since Carson does not know much, he will be heavily dependent upon experienced advisers - GOPe - and easily tricked. I would bet if they can get Carson up and Trump and Cruz down, they will come out with the dirt they have on Carson to knock him down. This is what they do in other elections to get their loser candidate in. They build them up, then knock them down until only their candidate (Jeb!) is the only one left standing. That is what they are doing here.

Is this poll an outfielder for GOPe talking points?

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