Ben Carson Quietly Builds Support Among Likely Primary Voters

The retired pediatric neurosurgeon isn’t generating the headlines or drawing the crowds of Donald Trump, but his numbers in some surveys suggest the appetite for his presidential candidacy might be just as great, if not greater.

Consider a recent survey by TargetPoint Consulting, a top Republican polling and data-research firm. Roughly two-thirds of likely Republican primary voters polled said they would consider backing Mr. Carson, the highest level of support for any candidate in the field. Just 16% said they wouldn’t, the lowest such tally. Those results include voters who didn’t know who Mr. Carson is.

By comparison, 54% of GOP primary voters would consider voting for Mr. Trump—a big jump from the 20% who said that in May—but a third said they wouldn’t, twice the level of resistance as for Mr. Carson.

Republicans were about as open to backing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former Hewlett-Packard Co. Chief Executive Carly Fiorina and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

That doesn’t mean Mr. Carson will overtake Mr. Trump in the polls—or, for that matter, be the nominee—but it does suggest that Republicans eager to elect someone without political experience rank the doctor high on their list. In other words, it looks like there is plenty of oxygen available for the low-key Mr. Carson to catch fire, should other candidates flame out. (Read more from “Ben Carson Quietly Builds Support Among Likely Primary Voters” HERE)

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