Ben Carson Plans to Endorse Trump

I don't know about you, but this comes as a bit of a surprise to me. I was actually expecting Carson to come out for Cruz....in spite of their past problems. On the other hand, throughout the campaign...and beyond the campaign rhetoric, I always sense a mutual respect between Dr. Carson and Mr. Trump.

Still, this will probably be a great boost for Mr. Trump's campaign.

MIAMI — Conservative favorite Ben Carson, who recently suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, plans to endorse Donald Trump on Friday morning, according to two people familiar with his thinking.

The endorsement, perhaps the most high-profile nod for Trump since New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie backed him, was finalized Thursday morning when Carson met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, the luxury club owned by the Republican front-runner, the people said. The sources requested anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Friday’s announcement will also take place at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., where the onetime rivals will appear alongside one another at a news conference.

Armstrong Williams, Carson’s business manager, confirmed that the pair met Thursday but declined to comment further. A Trump campaign spokesperson declined to comment about the meeting or a possible endorsement.

The support of Carson, a famed retired neurosurgeon and author, will likely give Trump a boost with GOP base voters and evangelicals, who embraced Carson’s campaign in its early days and fueled his brief rise to the top of Republican primary polls.

Carson’s decision may surprise some of his backers since Trump made blistering critiques over the past year of stories from Carson’s past. But according to people close to him, Carson has gradually come to see Trump as the GOP’s best chance of winning a general election and turning out droves of disengaged voters.

Appearing Thursday on Fox News radio, Carson hinted that he is “certainly leaning” toward a candidate and spoke highly of Trump.

“There’s two Donald Trumps. There’s the Donald Trump that you see on television and who gets out in front of big audiences, and there’s the Donald Trump behind the scenes,” he said. “They’re not the same person. One’s very much and entertainer, and one is actually a thinking individual.”

www.washingtonpost.com...

It was a surprise to me as well. I haven't read any thing that Carson would lean that way, and then this:

NEW: @RealBenCarson on endorsing Donald Trump: "I am leaning in that direction."

Then this:

Ben Carson to endorse GOP candidate Donald Trump on Friday morning, sources say - Washington Post, ABC

Considering Dr. Carson held himself at arms length from the constant bickering at the debates, I thought he might endorse Kasich or stay out of the furball. Who'd a thunk it?

I'm surprised he felt compelled to endorse anybody. His support was so marginal anyway I suspect it will be largely inconsequential.

Well Trump did stand with Carson when Carson was confused and waiting in the wings.

Now that's just weird and makes me think less of Carson. But for this reason.

I don't really believe that Trump is a practicing Christian and neither do any of you. Cruz pretends to be a Christian and may even believe it himself but he's not like Carson... We all KNOW and believe that Carson is a practicing Christian of deep faith. Why wouldn't Carson endorse the person most likely to be a Christian-which is...Cruz over Rubio and Trump and Kasich? I thought that was a big part of Carson? Therefore that endorsement troubles me and leads me to believe that Carson is not the man we thought we knew?

originally posted by: yesyesyes
Well Trump did stand with Carson when Carson was confused and waiting in the wings.

Yeah. I remember that too. At the time, it really stood out to me.

Carson will just close his eyes to avoid the train wreck...

I'm sorry, I had to. LOL

In all seriousness, he's probably hoping an endorsement like this can help keep him relevant for the future. I don't think we've seen the last of Ben Carson in the political sphere. I wouldn't be surprised if he ran for POTUS again, or another office.

originally posted by: IAMTAT

originally posted by: yesyesyes
Well Trump did stand with Carson when Carson was confused and waiting in the wings.

Yeah. I remember that too. At the time, it really stood out to me.

A little bit of being nice can go a long ways. Maybe their mothers taught them right!!

originally posted by: MystikMushroom
Carson will just close his eyes to avoid the train wreck...

I'm sorry, I had to. LOL

In all seriousness, he's probably hoping an endorsement like this can help keep him relevant for the future. I don't think we've seen the last of Ben Carson in the political sphere. I wouldn't be surprised if he ran for POTUS again, or another office.

Yeah they all seem to do it all the time. We'll see Carson and Rick Perry next time around for sure and Huckabee of course.

a reply to: amazing

Liberals believe all evangelicals only care about religion, just like they believe all women only care about abortion.
It's a stereotypical liberal fallacy.

Evangelicals care about many other issues as well; the economy among those issues high on list.

Let's see if he makes it through one of Trump's rallies without getting shoved or punched in the face

a reply to: IAMTAT

Yup, surprised me too but Carson is one wacky character so he'll fit right in the Trump camp.

originally posted by: MystikMushroom
Carson will just close his eyes to avoid the train wreck...

I'm sorry, I had to. LOL

In all seriousness, he's probably hoping an endorsement like this can help keep him relevant for the future. I don't think we've seen the last of Ben Carson in the political sphere. I wouldn't be surprised if he ran for POTUS again, or another office.

Or perhaps with Dr. Carson's endorsement Trump could have made promises of Surgeon General...

originally posted by: muse7
Let's see if he makes it through one of Trump's rallies without getting shoved or punched in the face

*wondering if Muse7 is Al Sharpton*

When all else fails pull the Race Card?

Don't get mad at me, you did it!

originally posted by: Boscowashisnamo

originally posted by: MystikMushroom
Carson will just close his eyes to avoid the train wreck...

I'm sorry, I had to. LOL

In all seriousness, he's probably hoping an endorsement like this can help keep him relevant for the future. I don't think we've seen the last of Ben Carson in the political sphere. I wouldn't be surprised if he ran for POTUS again, or another office.

Or perhaps with Dr. Carson's endorsement Trump could have made promises of Surgeon General...

That thought occurred to me, as well.

originally posted by: MystikMushroom
Carson will just close his eyes to avoid the train wreck...

I'm sorry, I had to. LOL

In all seriousness, he's probably hoping an endorsement like this can help keep him relevant for the future. I don't think we've seen the last of Ben Carson in the political sphere. I wouldn't be surprised if he ran for POTUS again, or another office.

Prejudiced against narcolepsy, you foul human you lmao

If Carson endorses Trump then I question any and everything he said he valued, because Trump displays none of it

originally posted by: CrazyWater
If Carson endorses Trump then I question any and everything he said he valued, because Trump displays none of it

Dr. Carson is an extremely intelligent person. He might even be more intelligent than either of us.

I was just reading about this, and came here to see if anyone's started a conversation about it. Can't believe it.

I have a hard time following his endorsement of Trump. A man who incites hatred and division. But its certainly a sobering call. Does Carson know something we don't? Or is he bought now?

How discouraging.

originally posted by: IAMTAT

originally posted by: CrazyWater
If Carson endorses Trump then I question any and everything he said he valued, because Trump displays none of it

Dr. Carson is an extremely intelligent person. He might even be more intelligent than either of us.

This endorsement has completely thrown me off!

Maybe he was blackmailed?