Currently battling businessman Donald Trump to lead the national polls and surveys of key states in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Dr. Ben Carson will be speaking at the Republican Party of Florida’s (RPOF) Sunshine Summit in Orlando next week.
On Wednesday night, the RPOF announced that Carson will attend the event with Trump and 11 other Republican presidential hopefuls.
“We are excited to welcome Ben Carson to our list of presidential candidates speaking at the Sunshine Summit in Orlando,” the RPOF noted. “With the event just nine days away, our grassroots are ready to hear the candidates share their vision for the future of our nation in what will be one of the largest political events in Florida this year.”
With Carson on board, the event now features 13 presidential candidates with former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, businesswoman Carly Fiorina, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana , Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Trump having already been announced as speakers.
After ending his celebrated surgical career at Johns Hopkins in Maryland, Carson moved to South Florida. Carson burst on the political scene by speaking against President Barack Obama’s federal health-care law. A favorite of social and religious conservatives, Carson has been making progress in the polls, especially in Iowa, home of the first caucus.
Carson has focused on Florida in recent days. Earlier this week, Carson conducted a book tour with more than 12 stops across the Sunshine State.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
