Republican GOP Presidential Polls & Probabilities: Who’s Really Ahead?

Ben Carson, 2 %

Carson, who has come under fire over the past week for inconsistencies in his biography, has raised more money than any other contender in the third quarter with $20.8 million. The retired pediatric neurosurgeon has been a favorite of religious and social conservatives, boosting his polling in Iowa and South Carolina, among other states. But bettors are extremely skeptical about his staying power. While he has been forced to fight off negative news stories, Carson has not lost support with his base, who see him as a victim of a biased liberal media. “We just blow off the media,” said Lorraine Stumbo, a retired piano teacher in Ames, Iowa, who supports Carson told the New York Times. “We stopped getting the newspaper. We watch Fox News and listen to the radio.” There has also been hesitation and criticism from supporters when it comes to Carson's religion. A Seven-Day Adventist, Carson has been open about his religion, which is expected to help his pull among evangelical supporters, throughout the campaign. While some are comparing Carson to Romney, who was criticized for his Mormon faith, others think Carson's situation is different. David Brody, chief political correspondent with the Christian Broadcasting Network, says "With Seventh Day Adventism, it’s widely seen as another denomination within the Christian faith, so it doesn’t have the same high hurdle as Mormonism. Therefore, I don’t anticipate Dr. Carson going through the same drill that Romney had to go through,” according to the Boston Globe. (Getty)