Politics
Ben Carson Nabs Big Fundraising Haul in Wake of Islam Comments
Republican presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson speaks during an event at Manchester Community College, Sunday, May 10, 2015, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
SPRING ARBOR, MICH. (NBC News) — The controversy over Dr. Ben Carson’s comments about Islam’s compatibility with the U.S. Constitution is proving to be a fundraising asset for the neurosurgeon’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
On Monday, 2016 Committee, the super PAC supporting Carson, sent an email asking supporters to back his response to “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd that he could not advocate a Muslim to be President because Islam is not compatible with the Constitution. Within 12 hours, about 400 people had contributed around $31,000, according to super PAC head John Philip Sousa IV.
“We’ve never gotten that kind of response,” said Sousa, the great grandson of the famed march composer. “It broke all records.”
On Wednesday morning, the campaign sent out an email from Carson, who pledged “I will not back down,” according to campaign communications director Doug Watts.
