Dr. Ben Carson is taking Arizona by storm and a recent poll conducted by MBQF, a public affairs and consulting firm, shows Carson in second place to Donald Trump. Carson held a rally on Tuesday night in Phoenix and drew approximately 12,000 potential voters.
The Ben Carson for US Presidential Rally had been scheduled for a church, but was moved to the Phoenix Convention Center to accommodate the large crowd.
Lyle Youngblood, a student at Shadow Ridge High School, introduced Dr. Carson. Youngblood, who was born with spina bifida, is a former patient of the doctor. Youngblood told the large crowd, “Dr. Carson has an incredible ability to heal people physically and emotionally.” Over loud applause Youngblood concluded, “He’s given thousands of people hope. If he can do his for one child imagine what he can do to heal the wounds of our nation.”
The results from the survey show high efficacy primary Republican voters across Arizona represented by likely 2016 turnout models.
In the most recent automated telephonic survey of 787 high efficacy primary republican voters, conducted on August 17, 2015, the survey calculates a 3.49% theoretical margin of error, plus or minus in percentage points, 95% of the time.
Michael Noble, of MBQF stated, “It appears Dr. Ben Carson’s performance at the debate resonated with many Arizona Republican voters. However, Donald Trump continues to hold a commanding lead. While Trump-mentum increases to 28%, it’s Dr. Ben Carson that showed the most growth from our last survey in late July with Carly Fiorina debuting in third place. The non-politician triumvirate of Trump-Carson-Fiorina totals 54%; politicians be warned. When asked which candidate they trust the most to secure the border Trump dominates the field at 46%. His closest competitor is 35 points behind him.”
Today, Carson will be briefed by Pinal County Sheriff Babeu and his staff on border security and smuggling issues faced by law enforcement in Arizona.
_____
The exact question was phrased, “If the election were held today for the Republican primary for President of the United States, which of the following top 10 candidates, listed in alphabetical order by last name, would you be most likely to vote for?”
| AZ GOP Presidential Primary 2016 | July 29, 2015 Results | August 17, 2015 Results | Difference |
| Donald Trump | 26.50% | 28% | +1.50% |
| Ben Carson | 8.70% | 15.20% | +6.50% |
| Carly Fiorina | * | 10.40% | * |
| Jeb Bush | 12.10% | 9% | -3.10% |
| Ted Cruz | 6% | 8.50% | +2.50% |
| Marco Rubio | 3.90% | 5.70% | +1.80% |
| John Kasich | * | 4.20% | * |
| Scott Walker | 12.60% | 3.90% | -8.70% |
| Mike Huckabee | 3.90% | 2.40% | -1.50% |
| Rand Paul | 1.70% | 1.40% | -0.3% |
| Unsure/Undecided | 21% | 11.20% | -9.80% |
* Candidate was not in top ten when last survey was conducted
The margin of error for this survey is +/-3.49%.