Carson Launces 2016 Bid

Retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson launched his campaign for the Republican nomination today in his hometown of Detroit. The Hill reports on his announcement:

Carson launches bid by knocking ‘kingmakers’ and politicians

Ben Carson launched his GOP bid for the White House on Monday by ripping members of both parties and insisting he is the true outsider candidate of 2016.

Carson, a conservative favorite who became a right-wing hero by criticizing President Obama’s policies at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast, took shots at Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and GOP establishment favorite Jeb Bush in a sometimes meandering speech.

He called on voters to look for alternatives to the brand-name candidates the parties are hoisting upon them.

“Stop being loyal to a party or to a man and use your brain,” Carson said. “That is the key to us as a nation to becoming successful again, not allowing ourselves to be manipulated by people who think they’re the kingmakers and the rulers of thought.”

Battling against party insiders is a popular theme on both sides of the aisle, and we can expect Carson to revisit it often on the campaign trail. The Hill notes that Carson is seen as a long shot, but notes that "polling suggests he’s at least within shouting distance in Iowa, where the first-in-the-nation caucuses will be held early next year."

According to one recent poll, from Public Policy Polling, Carson's support in Iowa is currently at 7 percent, ahead of several more established candidates including Chris Christie and Rick Perry and only 1 point behind Ted Cruz.

All in all, not a bad place to start for a longshot.