WASHINGTON - Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon turned conservative political star, has confirmed that he will seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.
Carson, who has never run for public office, would be a longshot presidential candidate. He would be a high-profile black Republican candidate trying to parlay his success as an author and speaker into a competitive campaign against more established politicians.
Carson announced his candidacy during an interview aired Sunday night by Ohio's WKRC television station. He is set to make a more formal announcement during a speech from his native Detroit on Monday.
