THE DOCTOR IS IN – AT 12:15 P.M. ET:  I'm amazed at Ben Carson.  I don't think he'll get the Republican presidential nomination, but his guts and idealism are something to behold.  And he makes an impression.  Vice president perhaps?  From The Politico: 

OKLAHOMA CITY — Ben Carson won the straw poll at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference on Saturday, demonstrating his popularity among conservative activists at one of the party’s traditional presidential cattle-call events.

Carson, a former surgeon who formally launched his underdog campaign this month with an appeal to the GOP’s tea party wing, finished with 25 percent. He was followed by Scott Walker, who received 20 percent, and Ted Cruz at 16 percent. Chris Christie and Rick Perry tied at 5 percent. Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Bobby Jindal and Rand Paul each received 4 percent.

The straw poll victory doesn’t necessarily represent a breakthrough for Carson. Carson and Cruz, both middle-of-the-pack candidates in the early 2016 polls, mounted serious efforts to win the straw poll, but most candidates did not compete. They hoped it would give them badly needed momentum as they compete against a sprawling field of better-known and better-funded rivals. Four years ago here, Mitt Romney notched a narrow, one-vote win over Ron Paul.

COMMENT:  What candidates are shooting for right now on the GOP side is poll standing, which will determine whether they're included in the opening presidential debates.  There are something like 19 possible candidates, and no debate is possible with that number.  The powers, both TV and political, are now determining a formula for deciding who will be in, and who won't make the cut.

I fear that we may miss out on some real gems, like Dr. Carson, simply because of poll standing.  It's a reflection of the Republican Party's embarrassment of riches. 

May 25, 2015