Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon from Maryland, has had a good August in Iowa. In the last three polls of likely Republican caucusgoers, Carson has come in second to Donald Trump, with both candidates overtaking one-time leader Scott Walker. In the latest poll, Carson and Trump are actually tied for first place in Iowa.
Trump’s rise nationally, his celebrity, and his near-constant presence on cable news all explain why the New York real-estate magnate is doing so well. What explains Carson’s success? In a word, advertising.
Earlier this month, the Carson campaign announced they had purchased “several hundred thousand” dollars worth of cable TV and radio ad-time. Here’s one of those ads running on TV:
Bloomberg‘s John McCormick says Carson has aired “more ads than any other presidential candidate in Iowa.” That includes billboards and digital ads, as well.
if Trump’s ascendence is attributable to an anti-establishment, anti-Washington mood among Republicans, surely Carson benefits from that as well. On top of that, Carson has a compelling life story, espouses a message that fits the Iowa’s evangelical Republican base, and gave a well-received performance at the August 6 debate.
But there are other candidates with good stories, messages, and debate performances. The difference may be the ads
