SAN ANTONIO, Texas — In his largest campaign rally to date, Seventh-day Adventist former neurosurgeon and current United States presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson is set to officially announce his choice for running mate to a capacity crowd of 65,000 Adventists at tonight’s General Conference Session closing ceremonies in the Alamodome. According to a pre-event press release from Carson’s campaign management team, the man he has chosen is none other than fellow Adventist, Pastor Doug Batchelor.
Carson who has pushed his campaign staff to “Think Big” with unconventional outreach ideas has, until tonight, held off on large-scale direct appeals for support from his own faith community. However, he is said to be convinced that announcing Batchelor as his future Vice President on the last night of the General Conference will go a long way toward convincing Adventists of the viability of his candidacy.
“Pitching your candidacy for US president to a captive audience of 65,000 Adventists is a bit of a gamble,” said La Sierra University Political Science Professor Seis Dias. “And gambling is not exactly a condoned Adventist practiced even with a big ticket draw like Doug Batchelor.”
Dias explained that Adventists are sticklers when it comes to the separation of church and state and that many will be concerned about the idea of an Adventist US president given the perceived role of the US in the Adventist understanding of end-time prophecy.
“Of course, that’s not going to stop anyone from coming to hear Dr. Carson tonight,” said Dias. “He has a multitude of good options for addressing the prophecy-related fears of Adventists. And quite frankly, none is savvier than announcing Doug Batchelor as his running mate.”
Special thanks to Raquel for the story idea
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