Most GOP presidential candidates appear to be taking a hands-off policy when it comes to criticism of Ben Carson – whose popularity with voters is unrivaled
in a recent poll – as the retired pediatric neurosurgeon tries to tame critical reports of his personal biography.
"God Almighty, I pray to God my candidate doesn’t do it," a senior strategist to one Republican campaign
tells Politico.
Carson has enjoyed top-tier status in the Republican presidential primary field largely "on the strength of his personal story and appeal," Politico notes – including his own books, and
on social media.
An anonymous source in a second campaign tells the website: "All a candidate would be doing is engendering ill will among people who like Ben Carson. That’s why I’m not on the record right now."
The exception is Trump, who was active on Twitter about
the Politico story on Carson's claim he was offered a scholarship to West Point – and CNN reporting that it couldn't back up Carson's
claims of a violent youth.
Also, a senior Trump adviser, Michael Cohen, tweeted:
"One of the things Ben Carson has going for him is people think he’s trustworthy. It’s not policy experience, it’s not governing experience, it’s not political experience, it’s trustworthiness," a source from a third GOP contender's campaign tells Politico. "If that trustworthiness begins to crumble, he’s in a lot of trouble in this race."
Matt Rotan, a Carson supporter in Houston who was on the host committee of a fundraiser last month, tells Politico he trusts the candidate implicitly.
"I know the man. Trust him," he tells Politico. "Appreciate what he had done and he has proved he is smart and clear headed to me. The fact he isn't a Washington regular appeals to me. Seems we have lost our moral compass in D.C."
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