Presidential Candidate Ben Carson: Presidential Race Turned Into a "Blood Sport" - Salivating Over Polling Numbers - "If the Shoe Fits Wear It" - Stop the Gladiator Mentality - Rome Incinerates

Ben Carson leads field ... for Trump VP pick

by Donovan Slack for USA Today

Retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson complained in an op-ed on FoxNews.com on Monday that pundits have turned the presidential race into "blood sport" and that they "salivate" over polling numbers.

Carson vowed (once again) that he will not drop out of the race despite his relatively low showing in those polls. (He is currently virtually tied for last among Republican candidates in the RealClearPolitics polling average.)

"I trust that the American people will soon wake-up and realize that leadership is not about how one speaks, but rather the life one leads," Carson wrote.

Trump, Clinton maintain big leads in new poll

Ironically, another poll released Monday actually has him leading the field — of potential vice presidential picks for Donald Trump. Morning Consult asked Republican and Republican-leaning independent voters over the weekend who the real estate magnate should pick and came up with this result:

• Ben Carson 11%
• Ted Cruz 9%
• Marco Rubio 9%
• John Kasich 8%
• Chris Christie 8%
• Jeb Bush 4%

Nearly 40% of respondents said they didn't know or didn't have an opinion. Two percent picked Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and star on ABC's Shark Tank.

Ben Carson speaks during a campaign event in Lexington, Ky. 

(Photo: Pat McDonogh, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal-USA TODAY Sports)