DR. CARSON OPERATES – AT 11:52 A.M. ET:  I must say that, for a guy with no political experience, Dr. Ben Carson is moving ahead with skill.  I still have my doubts that he can pull off a national campaign the first time around, but he might make a terrific vice-presidential candidate.  From the Washington Times: 

Ben Carson, the former neurosurgeon turned conservative sensation, is taking a major step toward a 2016 presidential bid by forming a political action committee and selecting the man who would run his campaign, The Washington Times has learned.

Emerging from two-days of meetings with supporters in Palm Beach, Fla., Dr. Carson told the Times on Friday morning he has selected Houston businessman Terry Giles to be his 2016 campaign chairman should he run and approved the formation of a PAC called One Nation.

“Now is the time to start all of the appropriate exploration and investigation, and put down the structure that is necessary,” Dr. Carson said in a phone interview.

The guy gets it.  You need a well-structured battle plan.

Asked about the likelihood he will run for president in 2016, Dr. Carson said: “I would say we are definitely a step or two closer than we were a year ago.”

He said the outcome of the 2014 elections in which Republicans are trying to seize control of the Senate would be a major factor, and that his new PAC would try to support candidates with similar viewpoints as his.

“Obviously we are very interested in what happens in November,” he said. “And if the people also continue to show strong desire for me to run, obviously that would be an important factor too.”

“In the meantime, we will focus our attention on helping those candidates who understand the change we need in our nation, and how to lead toward the healing our of nation,” he said.

Dr. Carson, a popular Washington Times columnist, huddled for two days with about two dozen prominent strategists, potential fund-raisers and supporters in Palm Beach to study all of the “ramifications of a run and make sure all of that is fully understood.”

Among those attending the private meetings were Mr. Giles, TV and radio personality Armstrong Williams, and political email and fund-raising strategist Mike Murray. During the strategy sessions, Dr. Carson asked Mr. Giles, a friend for over two deacdes, to serve as his campaign chairman if he runs.

COMMENT:  Hey, you never know.  Carson's big problem in the past has been his tendency to fall into gaffes.  But he also strikes me as a very disciplined man, a learner.  I haven't heard of any recent gaffes. 

He is African-American.  A Republican African-American candidate might well wreak havoc with the Democratic Party, which depends heavily on the "black vote" to win presidential elections. 

Just keep watching.  The 2016 race is getting interesting.  But as Carson says, much depends on what happens this November.

August 2, 2014