Tea Party darling Ben Carson launches presidential exploratory committee

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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