Meet Ben Carson: First Republican to Throw His Hat in 2016 Ring
Published at
iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The 2016 race for the White House has already gotten started — and it looks like Dr. Ben Carson is first in the ring.
Carson, a famous pediatric neurosurgeon and conservative political star, will air a nearly 40-minute-long ad introducing himself to the American people this weekend, an aide to Carson confirms to ABC News.
The documentary titled A Breath of Fresh Air: A New Prescription for America will air in 22 states and Washington, DC. The paid video will detail some of his biography and family life, including his rise from being born to a single mother with a poor childhood in Detroit to director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins for almost 40 years and to potential 2016 presidential candidate.
Carson first became a conservative star last year when he created a buzz at the National Prayer Breakfast, speaking out about political correctness, health care and taxes in front of an audience that included President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
He also called for a private health care savings plan and a flat tax in a speech that went viral and led to an editorial in the Wall Street Journal titled “Ben Carson for President.” He is known as a fierce opponent of the president’s health care law known as Obamacare.
An ABC News/Washington Post poll from last month of the potential 2016 presidential candidates showed Carson in seventh place garnering 7 percent of the vote after other notables including Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Chris Christie and Marco Rubio.
Carson has a grassroots effort to draft him for a 2016 presidential run that has raised millions for the effort. In an interview last month with Jorge Ramos on ABC News’ sister network, Fusion, he said he’s considering a White House run.
“No, I don’t want to be president. Why would any sane person want to do that?” Carson said, acknowledging he has noticed the support. “I think I have to consider that, with so many clamoring for me to do it.”
The Washington Times first reported the news of Carson’s video. A production company run by Armstrong Williams, a conservative commentator, is paying for the airtime. They also filmed the documentary. Williams is Carson’s business manager.
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio