A lot of Iowans have heard his name but still don't have the first idea of who he really is or what he has actually said. The "good guy," "brilliant doctor," 'he sure is smart," etc memes have been thrown out there fairly effectively.
Is it because they see him as devout?
It is because right now it is socially acceptable to tell someone that you "like" Ben Carson, basically because he's:
a. not Donald Trump (and to a far lesser extent, not the others, either)
b. essentially a tabula rasa at this point in time (he's whatever wonderful thing you wish him to be).
Will Iowans wake up and get a clue?
LOL! Iowans? They may get a clue now and then, but by the time they do, it's usually too late. It's been that way since Harold Hughes staggered up the steps of Terrace Hill. I would normally expect some of the usual Iowa evangelicals with their political "reverse Midas touch" to glom onto Ben Carson and make Iowa irrelevant yet again, but his being SDA may make that less likely.
Mr. niteowl77
Ha ha—your last point seems particularly apt!