Ben Carson Overwhelmingly Wins Polk County Iowa Presidential Straw Poll

DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Draft Ben Carson for President Committee, a political action committee formed to draft Dr. Ben Carson into the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, is proud to announce that Dr. Carson had a resounding victory in the Polk County Republican Party Dinner presidential straw poll, coming in first out of many contenders.

"It's clear that Dr. Ben Carson draws supporters who want him to make a presidential run in 2016," says Vernon Robinson, the Committee's campaign director. "This poll shows that people like what he stands for and believe the country needs a leader like him."

The straw poll was conducted at the dinner held Aug. 24 in Des Moines, and surveyed 261 attendees. Dr. Carson, who was the keynote speaker at the dinner, finished in first place with 62 percent of the votes, finishing ahead of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who received 7 percent, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who received 4 percent. Several other potential candidates shared the remaining votes. 

This is the latest in a number of top finishes in polls across the country for Dr. Carson. In July, Dr. Carson took the top spot in the Western Conservative Summit Presidential Straw Poll. Dr. Carson held second place in a narrow contest in the 2014 Republican Leadership Conference Presidential Straw Poll held in May. Dr. Carson also had an overwhelming victory in January in the Linn County, Iowa, midterm caucus straw poll with 87 percent of the votes. Dr. Carson also placed in top spots in the Conservative Political Action Conference Straw Poll in Washington, D.C., and in the Northeast Republican Leadership Conference in New Hampshire.

"That the Polk County Republican dinner was able to draw supporters from far and wide to hear and meet Dr. Carson is indicative of the appeal he has with voters," said John Philip Sousa IV, national chairman of the National Draft Ben Carson for President Committee. "I hope that Dr. Carson sees this straw poll victory as another rallying cry for him to be our country's next leader."

About the National Draft Ben Carson for President Committee

The National Draft Ben Carson for President Committee is a political action committee formed to draft Dr. Ben Carson into the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. It was founded in August 2013 by John Philip Sousa IV and Vernon Robinson, and works to raise awareness of Dr. Carson's qualifications and to engage grassroots conservative activists in clamoring for Dr. Carson to run for president. For more information on the committee visit www.runbenrun.org or follow them on Facebook and Twitter at @DraftRunBenRun.

SOURCE The National Draft Ben Carson for President Committee