TheCable

Popular and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson has inaugurated a committee to explore his chances of running for the president of the United States.

Though his views on social and political issues have made him a notably conservative figure, Carson has no prior political experience.

The author of Gifted Hands and One Nation, New York Times bestsellers, goes into record as the first surgeon to successfully separate conjoined twins joined at the head.

In an interview with Wall Street Journal, Terry Giles, his campaign chief executive, said “The campaign will soon announce more major players who will join the Carson team.

“He has made a number of hires lately, including a national finance director and aides in several early voting states. With the exploratory committee, Carson can raise money that he can transfer to his campaign once it begins.”

Carson is one of the first would-be 2016 Republican candidates to form a formal committee devoted to raising money to explore a presidential bid.

Earlier in February, he said he could form a committee to explore a bid for the nomination and make a formal announcement in May.

A poll conducted by Fox News ranked him fourth among potential Republican candidates, behind Jeb Bush, governor of Florida; Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas; and Rand Paul, a Kentucky senator.