Tea Party darling Ben Carson launches presidential exploratory committee

Ben Carson.
(Image credit: Richard Ellis/Getty Images)

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson on Tuesday announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee to weigh a 2016 campaign.

"Career politicians simply don't understand the disappointment, anger, and pain in real America," Carson said in a video announcing the move.

The 63-year-old Carson, who has no prior political experience, shot to national stardom on the right after criticizing President Obama's policies at a 2013 National Prayer Breakfast while the president sat a few feet away. Carson ranks near the top of preliminary GOP primary polls, though such early surveys have little predictive value on the race.

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Jon Terbush

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.