The field of Republican presidential candidates is ready to expand in the coming days as more 2016 hopefuls, some of whom have ties to Florida, look set to enter the race next week.
Dr. Ben Carson, who moved to Florida after his celebrated medical career at Johns Hopkins, has scheduled an event in Detroit Monday to make an announcement on whether he will seek the Republican presidential nomination. Most observers expect him to run.
Carson emailed supporters earlier this week.
Whatever I decide, the process of exploring a candidacy has been a tremendous experience, he wrote. While this period has been helpful in measuring the depth of support I have across the country, I also come away with a much deeper understanding of the priorities, concerns, and dreams of my fellow citizens.
Carson certainly sounded like a candidate, insisting conservatives think solid values and character are more important qualities for a president than experience in Washington politics and believe strongly that our country and our party are in need of a revival.
I very much share these beliefs, which in part explains why I decided to explore a candidacy in the first place, Carson added. I dont believe the same old, same old is going to cut it anymore. The American people are ready for a new kind of leadership.
But Carson is not the only Republican who moved to Florida in recent years who could be entering the presidential race in the coming days. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., who moved to the Panhandle after his 2008 presidential bid, will announce his decision at an event in Hope, Ark., on Tuesday, May 5.
Huckabee looks like a candidate based on the announcement Tuesday he will tour Iowa, home of the first presidential caucus. Back in 2008, he won Iowa. The former Arkansas governor is scheduled to hold events in Urbandale, Oskaloosa, Sioux City and Cedar Rapids.
Carson and Huckabee likely will be joined by Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard who unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in California in 2010. Reports emerged last week that Fiorina will announce Monday that she is entering the Republican presidential primaries. Fiorina was in Iowa over the weekend and has been touring New Hampshire, which holds the first primary.
Currently, three members of the U.S. Senate -- Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida -- are officially running for the Republican presidential nomination. So is former IRS Commissioner Mark Everson. On the Democratic side, former U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the only declared major candidate.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
