- The Washington Times - Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson on Wednesday explained Donald Trump’s appeal among evangelicals by saying they aren’t necessarily looking for a “preacher-in-chief.”

“I think the evangelical community realizes that we’re not choosing the preacher-in-chief,” Mr. Carson said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “We’re looking for [a] commander in chief.”

Mr. Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, met with a group of religious leaders in New York on Tuesday.

“But we want a commander in chief who understands the importance, for instance, of the First Amendment and not penalizing people for living according to their faith,” Mr. Carson said. “They want a commander in chief who understands the sanctity of life, who understands the importance of the family and how the family is the basic unit for a strong society.

“So those are the kinds of things that they’re really looking for — not necessarily somebody who can quote verse and chapter of the Bible,” Mr. Carson said.

Mr. Carson, who has a strong following among Christian conservatives, endorsed Mr. Trump after ending his own 2016 presidential bid.

• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.

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