Ben Carson announced Monday that he is seeking the 2016 GOP nomination for president.
“I am Ben Carson, and I am a candidate for president of the United States,” Mr. Carson said during a kickoff event in Detroit. He was joined on stage with his wife, Candy.
Mr. Carson, who has never held public office, enters the race on the same day that former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina jumped into the contest. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is expected to enter the race in Arkansas on Tuesday.
Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida are also running.
Mr. Carson rose to stardom at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast, where he criticized Obamacare. For several years groups, such as the National Draft Ben Carson for President Committee, have urged him to seek the presidency.
On Monday, John Philip Sousa IV, co-founder and chairman of The 2016 Committee, the political action committee originally formed to draft Carson into the presidential race, thanked Mr. Carson for running.
SEE ALSO: Ben Carson launches 2016 White House bid
“Dr. Carson’s candidacy represents the best and really the only opportunity we have to heal America and to bring Americans back together again under the banner of our Constitution,” Mr. Sousa said.
National polls show that Mr. Carson is running near the middle of the crowded field, and in Iowa, home of the caucuses that kick off the nomination contests.
The Washington Times reported Monday that Mr. Carson plans to push a $2 trillion economic stimulus funded entirely by repatriated American profits overseas, a flat tax system for all Americans, and a plan to eliminate the U.S. budget deficit quickly and to eliminate U.S. debt within a decade.
Mr. Carson also told The Times that the nation will have to rely on ground troops if it wants to win the war the Islamic State.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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