Carson to make campaign announcement May 4 in Detroit

Ben Carson (R) will make an announcement about his presidential plans on May 4 in his hometown of Detroit.

Carson was the first serious Republican contender to launch a presidential exploratory committee, and he’s been staffing up, leading many to believe that he intends to launch his presidential campaign in the announcement at the Detroit Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts early next month.

{mosads}Detroit has special significance for Carson.

He grew up in poverty in the Motor City, the son of a struggling single mother. The story of how he rose from those humble beginnings to become one of the most celebrated neurosurgeons in the world is a critical component of his biography and has endeared him to millions of supporters.

There’s also a high school of science and medicine in the city that bears Carson’s name.

In recent months, Carson has hired a handful of advisers, fundraisers and communications professionals to help him build on an already solid base of grassroots support.


The growing political team will look to capitalize on a draft movement already underway that has hauled in millions and claims a presence in all of Iowa’s 99 counties.

Carson continues to surprise political watchers with his strong early base of support. He consistently polls near the top of the second tier of GOP hopefuls, and remains well within striking distance of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Florida Gov. Bush, the two GOP front-runners at the moment.

Still, many Republican strategists say Carson has limited appeal outside of conservative grassroots and evangelical Christian circles. They say he has a low ceiling of support and doubt that he has a real shot at the Republican nomination.

Carson has never been elected to office or run a political campaign. He has a knack for generating controversial headlines, particularly when it comes to hot-button social issues like gay marriage.

The retired neurosurgeon will also face stiff competition from a handful of candidates that will be fighting for the votes of evangelical Christians and social conservatives.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) got a jump on the field by announcing his presidential candidacy in late March. He’s been laser-focused on appealing to Christian voters, and he’s landed major donors who have reportedly poured some $30 million into super-PACs backing his candidacy.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum are also expected to join the race soon, and both have strong support from social conservatives.