Ben Carson Presidential Draft Effort Builds Steam

Supporters of drafting Dr. Ben Carson to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 are claiming momentum. John Phillip Sousa IV, great-grandson and namesake of the celebrated composer of patriotic marches, is leading the national "Draft Ben Carson for President" committee and sent an email out to conservatives this weekend to make the case for his candidate, noting that more than 200,000 Americans ... have signed the petition urging Dr. Ben Carson to run for president of the United States.

Sousa praised Carson for attacking President Barack Obamas federal health-care law at the National Prayer Breakfast back in March.

At that moment, Dr. Carson captured the imagination of the American people, Sousa insisted. He became an instant front-runner for the Republican nomination for president in 2016.

Ben Carson will win, Sousa added. As president he will heal America and unite us as one people working together to achieve the American dream. Ben Carson is a tea party conservative. He has supported the tea party since it began and he has practical, common-sense solutions to the problems that plague our land.

Sousa argued that Carson, as an African-American, can win over black voters and keep conservatives in the Republican column, and can beat the Democratic nominee in 2016.